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25 Sep 2024
Expo in Frankfurt, Germany, reveals photonic innovations from big name suppliers.
The annual ECOC Conference and collocated ECOC Exhibition have this week been taking place in Frankfurt, Germany. The 50th edition of the conference showcases the latest developments in optical communications, alongside a social program allowing delegates to network. The exhibition features more than 300 companies presenting the latest technologies (click for full list).Selected program highlights
Following is selection of announcements of new products and technologies that have been made this week at ECOC in Frankfurt:
Trumpf Photonic Components and Optomind are presenting a 100Gbps VCSEL. “We are delighted to have achieved a solid performance of 800Gbps in our transceiver, leveraging innovative optics technology and Trumpf’s improved 100Gbps/ch VCSEL,” said Yung Son, Chief Marketing Officer of Optomind.With increasing demand for multichannel high-speed data transmission in AI/ML-based hyperscale cloud computing space, 800 Gbps data rate at 100Gbps per lane and beyond is essential. “We are pleased with continuing collaboration with Optomind to demonstrate the performance of our VCSEL at PAM4 112Gbps/ch in their transceiver, which validates the use of it in a real-world application,” said Ralph Gudde, Trumpf’s Vice President of Marketing and Sales.
“A full-featured version with enhanced technology for superior performance over longer link transmission, and at higher temperatures, is nearing the release this year,” Gudde said.
Advanced optical data communication systems benefit from the high-speed data transmission, which the VCSEL-based technology offers. Trumpf continues to invest heavily in its technology for higher data rates and is offering both VCSELs and photodiodes as a matching pair solution in various layouts like singlets, 1x2, 1x4, 1x8 and/or 1x12 arrays.
The VCSELs are designed to meet the demands of data centers including for AI/ML, high-performance computing, and other bandwidth-intensive applications, as they deliver stable and reliable data transmission at high speeds.
Jabil, headquartered in Saint Petersburg, FL, a developer of supply chain solutions, has announced its continued investment in silicon photonics-based products and capabilities to support the increasing demands of hyperscalers and next-wave cloud and AI data center growth.The company is set to roll out additional capabilities at its Ottawa, Canada, site in Q4, 2024, to support customers’ advanced photonics packaging new product introductions.
The new product introduction line will feature innovative capabilities designed to assist photonics customers quickly scale from proof of concept to mass production, such as fluxless flip-chip, fiber attachment, precise die bonding, and wire bonding. These advancements will support SiPh chip packaging, particularly in high-speed connectivity applications such as co-packaged optics and high-speed on-board connections.
“The expansion of our Ottawa site is a game-changer for Jabil. This facility will enable us to meet the growing demands for advanced photonics solutions tailored to AI and next-generation data centers,” comented Matt Crowley, Executive VP, Global Business Units.
Coherent also won the 2024 ECOC Exhibition Industry Award for Best Product in the Data Center Innovation category for its Datacenter Lightwave Cross-Connect (DLXTM) Optical Circuit Switch. “We are honored that our innovative product has received the prestigious ECOC Exhibition Industry Award,” said Dr. Sanjai Parthasarathi, Chief Marketing Officer. “This acknowledgment underscores the pioneering work of our team in developing technologies that shape the future of optical networking, including next-gen AI deployments.”
Lumentum presented its latest photonic solutions, reinforcing its commitment to powering the AI revolution. The company featured its recently-enhanced 800G ZR+ coherent pluggable transceivers, optimized for extended reach and higher optical power applications, including expanded long-reach, high-capacity data center interconnect use cases driven by AI.It stated, “Due to constraints in delivering electrical power for their expanding AI infrastructure, cloud operators increasingly need to interconnect geographically dispersed data centers, placing greater demands on optical network capabilities.” The enhanced performance in its 800G ZR+ transceivers stem from its hybrid photonic integrated circuits, which leverage Lumentum’s in-house proprietary indium phosphide technology for superior transmission performance.
Lumentum also demonstrated its latest Tunable SFP28 ER module, a high-performance optical transceiver supporting 25 Gbps DWDM links over distances up to 40 km. Designed to perform in the more extreme industrial temperature range, this module supports the growing bandwidth demands of cable MSOs driven by DOCSIS 4.0 and FTTH deployments.
Viavi Solutions launched a new optical connector inspection solution for transceivers. The FVAM-2000 joins the company’s benchtop microscopy line and, along with other new optical and Ethernet testing solutions, will be on display in Frankfurt. Parallel optic connectors, including multi-fiber push on, are driving a need for advanced inspection test methods to simplify operations and workflow in manufacturing.The FVAM-2000 addresses MPO and other new bulkhead connectors designed into 800G formats, such as the octal small form factor pluggable and quad small form factor pluggable, that are propelling today’s industry. This solution features an easy-to-attach connector interface designed to accommodate bulkhead-type devices.
The FVAM-2000 leverages Viavi’s panoptic microscope engine yielding brighter, higher contrast images and faster panning performance. It is also equipped with an advanced automation framework that enables it to integrate into a PC-driven workflow, critical in high-volume manufacturing environments.
Also on show was the ONE-1600, a 1.6Tb/s Ethernet test module designed to address the testing and validation needs of the emerging 1.6Tb/s ecosystem. The ONE-1600 is the latest addition to the growing, ONE LabPro™ platform.
“As the industry accelerates towards 1.6T speeds, Genuine Optics (a subsidiary of Huagong Technology Industry) is at the forefront, delivering high-performance optical transceivers that unlock new possibilities for data centers and AI applications,” said Jim Theodoras, VP Research and Development. “Our partnership with Viavi has been instrumental in driving this innovation forward, ensuring seamless testing and verification of our 1.6T solutions.”
Ciena this week announced it is “continuing to push technology boundaries” by bringing to market a 1.6 Tb/s Coherent-Lite pluggable to help cloud and data center providers cope with the expected growth in cloud, machine learning, and AI-related traffic.To address high-performance data center fabric and campus applications, Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Nano (WL6n) will now be offered as both 1.6 Tb/s and 800G coherent pluggable solutions. The 3nm coherent ASIC used in WL6n enables the 1.6 Tb/s Coherent-Lite pluggable offering through support of dual 800G data paths within a single DSP chip. Coherent-Lite refers to the power and latency-optimized coherent design, intended for shorter reach, data center applications.
“The rapid adoption of AI and machine learning applications will create a new wave in global bandwidth demand,” said Dr. Vlad Kozlov, Chief Analyst at LightCounting. “Cloud and data center providers are responding by creating high-capacity connections inside and around data centers. Ciena’s 1.6 Tb/s coherent pluggable offering, powered by advanced 3nm CMOS, brings new levels of scale and flexibility in how data centers are built.”
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