NeoPhotonics sampling OpenZR+ QSFP-DD optical transceivers

Feb. 24, 2022

The 400-Gbps OpenZR+ QSFP-DD leverages the company’s ultra-low noise tunable lasers and previous 400ZR designs as well as the Marvell Deneb Coherent DSP.

Stephen Hardy

NeoPhotonics Corp. (NYSE: NPTN) says it is now sampling OpenZR+ QSFP-DD optical transceivers. The company is a contributor to the OpenZR+ Multi-Source Agreement (MSA).

The 400-Gbps OpenZR+ QSFP-DD leverages the company’s ultra-low noise tunable lasers and previous 400ZR designs (see “NeoPhotonics’ QSFP-DD and OSFP 400ZR coherent modules reach general availability”) as well as the Marvell Deneb Coherent DSP (CDSP) that enables the use of Open Forward Error Correction (OFEC). The use of OFEC enables rOSNR better than traditional 400ZR CFEC, NeoPhotonics asserts, and therefore supports multiple span coverage in amplified networks.

The company expects the OpenZR+ QSFP-DD optical transceivers to find use in metro and IP-over-DWDM networks that require extended reach scenarios for transmission at rates from 100 to 400 Gbps. The transceivers also would benefit shorter-reach applications with older fiber, patch panels, and other impairments with challenging link loss and impairment budgets.

“NeoPhotonics has developed an OpenZR+ solution to take advantage of the benefits of IP-over-DWDM and because many customers are interested in utilizing small form factor coherent modules deeper into their networks,” said Tim Jenks, chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics. “Our Open ZR+ QSFP-DD transceivers combine an extended network reach and interoperable OFEC with our proven optical component and transceiver designs to address these needs.

"The transceivers also augment our proven 400ZR solutions, which have multiple design wins at cloud and data center switch customers, with new Open 400ZR+ compliant QSFP-DD and OSFP modules. The ability to transmit 400 Gbps over distances as long as 800 km and more in a cost-effective manner is a real game changer,” Jenks concluded.

NeoPhotonics agreed to be acquired by Lumentum last year (see “Lumentum to buy NeoPhotonics for high-speed optics, ‘new markets’”). Marvell’s Deneb DSP earned a 4.5 score in the 2022 Lightwave Innovation Reviews.

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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.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.