Acacia's single-wavelength terabit coherent module

• Acacia has developed a 140-gigabaud, 1.2-terabit coherent module

• The module, using 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM), can deliver an 800-gigabit wavelength over 90 per cent of the links of a North American operator.  

Acacia Communications, now part of Cisco, has announced the first 1.2-terabit single-wavelength coherent pluggable transceiver.

Tom Williams

And the first vendor, ZTE, has already showcased a prototype using Acacia’s single-carrier 1.2 terabit-per-second (Tbps) design.

The coherent module operates at a symbol rate of up to 140 gigabaud (GBd) using silicon photonics technology. Until now, indium phosphide has always been the material at the forefront of each symbol rate hike.

The module uses Acacia’s latest Jannu coherent digital signal processor (DSP), implemented in 5nm CMOS. The coherent transceiver also uses a custom form-factor pluggable dubbed the Coherent Interconnect Module 8 (CIM-8).

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ADVA’s 800-gigabit CoreChannel causes a stir

ADVA’s latest addition to its FSP 3000 TeraFlex platform provides 800-gigabit optical transmission. But the announcement has caused a kerfuffle among its optical transport rivals.

ADVA’s TeraFlex platform supports various coherent optical transport sleds, a sled being a pluggable modular unit that customises a platform’s functionality.

Stephan RettenbergerThe coherent sleds use Cisco’s (formerly Acacia Communication’s) AC1200 optical engine. Cisco completed the acquisition of Acacia in March.

The AC1200 comprises a 16nm CMOS Pico coherent digital signal processor (DSP) that supports two wavelengths, each up to 600-gigabit, and two photonic integrated circuits (PICs), for a maximum capacity of 1.2 terabits.

The latest sled from ADVA, dubbed CoreChannel, supports an 800-gigabit stream in a single channel.

ADVA states in its press release that the CoreChannel uses “140 gigabaud (GBd) sub-carrier technology” to deliver 800-gigabit over distances exceeding 1,600km.

This, the company says, improves reach by over 50 per cent compared with state-of-the-art 95GBd symbol rate coherent technologies.

It is these claims that have its rivals reacting.

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Acacia unveils its 400G coherent module portfolio

Acacia Communications has unveiled a full portfolio of 400-gigabit coherent optics and has provided test samples to customers, one being Arista Networks.

Delivering a complete set of modules offers a comprehensive approach to address the next phase of coherent optics, the company says. 

Tom WilliamsThe 400-gigabit coherent designs detailed by Acacia are implemented using the QSFP-DD, OSFP and CFP2 pluggable form factors.

Collectively, the pluggables support three performance categories: the 400ZR standard, OpenZR+ that is backed by several companies, and the coherent optics specification used for the Open ROADM multi-source agreement (MSA). 

“These are challenging specifications,” says Tom Williams, vice president of marketing at Acacia. “Even the 400ZR, where the objective has been to simplify the requirements.” 

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The era of 400G coherent pluggables finally emerges

Part 1: 7nm coherent DSPs, ZR and ZR+

The era of 400-gigabit coherent pluggable modules has moved a step closer with Inphi’s announcement of its Canopus coherent digital signal processor (DSP) and its QSFP-DD ColorZ II optical module. 

NeoPhotonics has also entered the fray, delivering first samples of its 400-gigabit ClearLight CFP2-DCO module that uses the Canopus DSP.

Pranay AiyaThe ColorZ II and ClearLight modules support the 400ZR OIF standard used to link data centres up to 120km apart. They also support extended modes, known as ZR+, that is not standardised.

ZR+’s modes include 400 Gigabit-per-second (Gbps) over distances greater than 400ZR's 120km and lower data rates over metro-regional and long-haul distances.    

The announcements of the Canopus DSP and 400-gigabit pluggable coherent modules highlight the approaches being taken for ZR+. Optical module vendors are aligning around particular merchant DSPs such that interoperability exists but only within each camp.  

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Oclaro uses Acacia’s Meru DSP for its CFP2-DCO

Oclaro will use Acacia Communications’ coherent DSP for its pluggable CFP2 Digital Coherent Optics (CFP2-DCO) module. The module will be compatible with Acacia’s own CFP2-DCO, effectively offering customers a second source. 

Tom Williams This is the first time Acacia is making its coherent DSP technology available to a fellow module maker, says Tom Williams, Acacia’s senior director, marketing.

Acacia benefits from the deal by expanding the market for its technology, while Oclaro gains access to a leading low-power coherent DSP, the Meru, and can bring to market its own CFP2-DCO product. 

Williams says the move was encouraged by customers and that having a second source and achieving interoperability will drive CFP2-DCO market adoption. That said, Acacia is not looking for further module partners. “With two strong suppliers, we don’t see a need to add additional ones,” says Williams.  

“This agreement is a sign that the market is reaching maturity, with suppliers transitioning from grabbing market share at all costs to more rational strategies,” says Vladimir Kozlov, CEO and founder of LightCounting Market Research.

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Acacia announces a 1.2 terabit coherent module

Acacia Communications has given first details of its AC1200 coherent optical module, capable of transmitting up to 1.2 terabits of data. The custom coherent transceiver is being aimed at applications ranging from linking data centres to long-haul and even sub-sea transmissions and was announced at the recent ECOC show held in Gothenburg.

Channel capacity and link margin can be maximised by using the fractional QAM scheme. Source: Acacia.

The company is facing increasing market competition. Ciena has teamed up with Lumentum, NeoPhotonics, and Oclaro, sharing its high-end coherent DSP expertise with the three optical module makers. Meanwhile, Inphi has started sampling its 16nm CMOS M200, a 100- and 200-gigabit coherent DSP suitable for CFP2-ACO, CFP-DCO, and CFP2-DCO module designs.

The AC1200 is Acacia’s response, extending its high-end module offering beyond a terabit to compete with the in-house system vendors and preserve its performance lead against the optical module makers.

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TIP seeks to shake up the telecom marketplace

The telecom industry has long recognised the benefits of the Internet content providers' data-centre work practices. It has led to the operators starting to embrace software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualisation (NFV) technology whereby telecom functions that previously required custom hardware are executed as software on servers.

 Niall Robinson

Now, ten telcos, systems vendors, component and other players have joined Facebook as part of the Telecom Infra Project, or TIP, to bring the benefits of open-source design and white-box platforms to telecoms. TIP has over 300 members and has seven ongoing projects across three network segments of focus: access, backhaul, and core and management. 

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