Microchip, Acacia partner for 400G pluggable coherent optics implementations
Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) and Acacia, now part of Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) reveal they are pooling their expertise to advance the deployment of 400G pluggable coherent optical modules (such as Acacia provides). The collaboration sees Microchip’s DIGI-G5 OTN processor and META-DX1 terabit secured-Ethernet PHY paired with Acacia’s 400G pluggable coherent optical modules. The companies say they are creating an ecosystem to support 400G CFP2-DCO, QSFP-DD, and OSFP modules for 400ZR as well as OpenZR+ and Open ROADM Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) applications.
The companies say that their respective silicon and optical modules will bring 400G coherent pluggable capabilities to OTN and Ethernet networks in a variety of ways:
- In converged packet/OTN optical platforms, use of Microchip’s DIGI-G5 and Acacia’s 400G CFP2-DCO optical transceiver module can enable terabit-scale OTN switching line cards, muxponders, and switchponders. The DIGI-G5 interoperates with the 400G CFP2-DCO module via a Flexible OTN (FlexO) or NxOTU4 interface to support OTN traffic. Supported modes include Open ROADM MSA interface modes and 200G/400G standards now being drafted within ITU-T.
- In compact modular optical systems, Microchip’s META-DX1 and Acacia’s 400ZR and OpenZR+ modules can be used to create 400G flexible line rate muxponders/transponders with support for multiple client optics types including QSFP28, QSFP-DD, and OSFP modules. The multi-rate capabilities will enable service providers to transition from 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) to 400 GbE using the same hardware, the companies say.
- In data center routing and switching platforms, Microchip’s META-DX1 and Acacia’s 400ZR and OpenZR+ modules will enable dense 400GbE or FlexE line cards with per port MACsec encryption. The collaborators foresee such cards finding use in in data center interconnect applications using IP routers/switches over DWDM (IPoDWDM) infrastructure.
“DIGI-G5 and META-DX1 have enabled our optical transport, IP routing and Ethernet switching customers to implement a new class of multi-terabit OTN switching and high-density 100/400GbE and FlexE line cards that deliver on stringent packet timing and integrated security capabilities for the build out of cloud and carrier 5G-ready optical networks,” said Babak Samimi, vice president for Microchip’s Communications business unit. “Our interoperability efforts with Acacia help to demonstrate that an ecosystem for volume deployment of these new line cards with pluggable 400G coherent optics exists.”
“With Acacia’s 400G coherent modules verified to interoperate with Microchip’s DIGI-G5 and META-DX1 devices, we see it as a robust solution designed to address network capacity growth and improved efficiency,” added Markus Weber, senior director DSP, product line management of Acacia, now part of Cisco. “The compact size and power efficiency of our 400G OpenZR+ CFP2-DCO modules were designed to help network operators deploy and scale capacity of high-bandwidth DWDM connectivity between data centers and in metro networks.”
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About the Author
Stephen Hardy
Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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