NeoPhotonics launches L-Band optical system to double fiber capacity…

19 Mar 2020

…while Infinera achieves “record” 800G transmission over 950 kilometers.

NeoPhotonics, a developer of silicon photonics and advanced hybrid photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based lasers and subsystems for high speed optical networks, has announced an “L-Band” suite of coherent optical components, which will double optical communications capcity, the company says.

The expanded portfolio includes its 64 GBaud L-Band High Bandwidth Coherent Driver Modulator (HB-CDM), 64 GBaud L-Band Intradyne Coherent Receiver (ICR) and ultra-narrow linewidth L-Band tunable laser Micro-ITLA (integrated tunable laser assembly). Together with NeoPhotonics’ standard C-Band coherent components, these new products enable customers to double the capacity of optical fiber links.

The C-Band is the primary band for telecommunications with wavelengths centered around 1550 nm. The L-Band uses wavelengths centered around 1590 nm and is primarily used to complement the C-Band to increase data capacity, especially in long-haul networks. By adding channels in the L-Band, operators can double the capacity of an optical fiber.

NeoPhotonics’ 64 Gbaud coherent components and tunable lasers enable single channel 600G data transmission over data center interconnect (DCI) distances of approximately 80 km using 64 QAM. These components also support 400G over metro distances of 400-600 km using 64 GBaud and 16 QAM or 200G over long-haul distances of greater than 1000 km using 64 GBaud and QPSK.

The L-Band External Cavity micro-ITLA incorporates the same laser architecture as the firm’s C-Band laser for a pure optical signal with an ultra-narrow linewidth and low phase noise. In coherent systems, any error in the phase of the signal and reference lasers, due to the laser’s linewidth, can cause data errors, thereby making narrow linewidth critical in systems using higher order modulation.

The 64 Gbaud L-Band HB-CDM co-packages an indium phosphide based Mach-Zehnder quadrature modulator chip with a linear, quad-channel, differential 64 GBaud driver. Both the C-Band and L-Band versions of the HB-CDM are designed to be compliant to the Optical Internetworking Forum Implementation Agreement OIF-HB-CDM-01.0 “High Bandwidth Coherent Driver Modulator”.

"We are pleased to add L-Band versions to our existing suite of coherent components, thus providing customers with a complete solution to their fiber capacity requirements, whether C-Band, C++ Band or L-Band," said Tim Jenks, Chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics. "Our ultra-pure tunable laser design and our high performance coherent modulator and receiver designs are very flexible and excel in different spectral regimes to provide the highest speed over distance performance."

Infinera transmits 800G over 950 kilometers

Optical communications technology company Infinera has completed a live network trial of 800 gigabits per second single-wavelength transmission at 96 Gbaud over 950 km across a long-haul link in a major North American network operator’s production network.

Powered by Infinera’s sixth-generation dual-800G Infinite Capacity Engine (ICE6) technology, this achievement signals a major industry milestone in driving down the cost per bit of telecommunications networks, the company says.

The trial showcased the capability of Infinera’s 800G technology designed to enable network operators to rapidly and cost-effectively address the increasing capacity demands of new services such as 5G, enhanced broadband, and cloud-based business services.

Conducted over a third-party optical line system carrying live multi-vendor traffic, the production network trial was implemented using Infinera’s industry-leading Groove (GX) Series, equipped with an ICE6-based sled over industry-standard G.652 fiber.

The results of the trial demonstrated the value of Infinera’s vertically integrated ICE6 optical engine, which features second-generation Nyquist subcarriers, 64QAM with per-subcarrier long-codeword probabilistic constellation shaping, and per-subcarrier dynamic bandwidth allocation.

“The success of this trial proves our ability to transmit 800G high-baud-rate signals across significant distances, which will be instrumental in driving down network costs,” said Parthi Kandappan, Chief Technology Officer at Infinera. “This marks another major accomplishment for Infinera’s Optical Innovation Center, adding to its long history of pioneering innovations in optical networking.”