QSFP-DD MSA targets 200G, 400G optical transceivers

A group of 13 companies have joined to form the QSFP-DD Multi Source Agreement (MSA) Group, with the aim of creating a double-density QSFP optical transceiver. The group plans to create specifications for a QSFP that would support 200 Gbps and 400 Gbps Ethernet applications.

Currently QSFP28 optical modules support 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet applications. They feature four electrical lanes that can operate at 10 or 25 Gbps. The new QSFP-DD group plans to specify eight lanes that operate at up to 25 Gbps via NRZ modulation or 50 Gbps via PAM4 modulation, which would support optical transmission of 200 Gbps or 400 Gbps aggregate. At the 400-Gbps transmission rate, the QSFP-DD form factor could enable up to 14.4 Tbps aggregate bandwidth in a single switch slot, the group says and address rapid datacenter traffic growth.

The MSA founder-promoters include: Broadcom, Brocade, Cisco, Finisar, Foxconn Interconnect Technology, Intel, Juniper Networks, Lumentum, Luxtera, Mellanox Technologies, Molex, Oclaro, and TE Connectivity.

Additional information about the new MSA is available at www.qsfp-dd.com.

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