Pluggable coherent optics offer advantages in many areas. One of the biggest factors is electronic dispersion compensation. For DCI, traditional ‘direct detect’ systems needed a detailed pre-planned link with dispersion compensation ‘engineered in’. This is both expensive and challenging to deploy. Scaling and maintaining are complicated. Electronic dispersion compensation inside the DSP of coherent modules […]
With the move to pluggable coherent optical modules for the first time since 10G, we see client and line side considerations coming together. The most obvious example of this is optical signal to noise (OSNR) and related measurements. For any modules with the potential for use in an amplified system, OSNR becomes the fundamental figure […]
With the advent of 400G Ethernet, it has become critically important to fully understand and validate Forward Error Correction (FEC) logic and the related software and firmware. 400G Ethernet uses PAM-4 signalling optically and electrically. Because of the susceptibility to the impact of noise, distortion, and other disturbances, most links will run with a raw error […]
Growing up in Castleisland, County Kerry, my family was lucky to know the famous journalist Con Houlihan. With his fantastic command of the written word he was often asked to advise on the progress of young student’s written English by concerned mothers. Con’s stock reply would normally be ‘Well, they are making all the right […]
400G optics have already presented tremendous R&D challenges during the first phases of 400G QSFP-DD development. PAM-4 high speed signalling in both the optical and electrical domains, debugging module firmware and the interaction with the DSP firmware are clear examples, not to mention the new challenge brought about by the latest emerging standard in optical […]
Pluggable coherent optics are now being developed for 400G applications with two distinct streams emerging. One is high performance CFP2 based for 1000+km reach and multi-service applications and the other is QSFP-DD ZR (and perhaps OSFP) for DCI and metro Ethernet applications. Both streams present new challenges for test and measurement, not just to meet […]
One of the most exciting selling points of 5G is the release of congestion currently experienced on the 4G network. Add to that unparalleled internet speeds and data transfers, the new mobile internet technology is beaming with potential waiting to be scaled. Anyone on the 4G network can attest to the congestion with untimely pauses […]
400 gigabit ethernet is quite self-explanatory in the fact that it is an ethernet connection which operates four times faster than 100G. The name ‘400GbE’ stands for the next capacity rate in Ethernet interfaces. 400 GbE is advancing the optical network landscape, pushing network providers to adopt the new addition in order to stay ahead. […]
Network convergence might sound like an enigmatic concept when, in fact, it’s simply the aggregation of all electronic mediums of communication onto one ubiquitous 5G network. In essence, it merges mobile, video transmission, data communication services into a coexisting network. The need for increased bandwidth in an always-online society is the motivation that has given […]
Full-fiber broadband is already on the horizon. In fact, the APAC region are ahead of the curve as Singapore reaches first place with 93% fiber coverage across the island. The rest of the world is following along with substantial investments into similar infrastructure across multiple countries. For example, the UK recently approved a £5 billion […]
