The 100G Lambda Multisource Agreement (MSA) Group, which has rapidly grown to include 45 member companies, this month announced its release of a 400 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) specification up to 10 km based on 100 Gb/s per wavelength PAM4 optical technology.
The new 400GbE spec is designated as 400G-LR4-10 for duplex single-mode fiber links up to 10 km and relies on multiplexing 4 wavelengths of 100 Gb/s PAM4 modulated optical signals. The specification targets applications for data centers and service provider networks, enabling multi-vendor interoperability for optical transceivers produced by different manufacturers and in various form factors.
“The MSA received feedback from the industry of a strong need for a 400GbE 10 km specification to be available, and the MSA has worked hard to provide specifications to enable interoperable products to meet this demand,” comments Mark Nowell, 100G Lambda MSA co-chair.
Building on the success of its previously published and broadly adopted specifications, the MSA members developed the 400GbE specification to fully address market requirements for 2 km to 10 km reaches over duplex single-mode for both 100GbE and 400GbE.
The MSA believes that the 10 km reach specification will be fully interoperable with the 6 km version being developed by another industry standards group. The nomenclature use of “-10” in 400G-LR4-10 will inform users of the target reach.
“Industry organizations are valued for producing rigorous specifications assuring reliable, interoperable communications,” remarks Dale Murray, principal analyst for LightCounting Market Research. “The 100G Lambda MSA members were able to, again, quickly identify the market requirements and build on their earlier work to extend it to meet the market need for a full 10 km specification at 400G.”
The 100G Lambda MSA Group member companies are: II-VI, Alibaba, Applied OptoElectronics, Arista, Broadcom, Cambridge Industries Group, China Unicom, Ciena, Cisco Systems, Color Chip, Credo, Delta, Eoptolink, Fujitsu Optical Components, HG Genuine, HiSense, HiSilicon, IDT, Innolight, Inphi, Intel, Juniper Networks, Keysight Technologies, Lightwave Logic, Lumentum, MACOM, Maxim, Maxlinear, Mellanox, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric, Molex, MultiLane, Neophotonics, Nokia, Panduit, Rockley Photonics, Semtech, Sicoya, SiFotonics Technologies, Source Photonics, Sumitomo Electric, TE Connectivity, TFC Optical Communication, Tektronix and ZTE.
“Maintaining consistency and interoperability with industry standard’s progression has always been a target for the MSA members,” says Jeffery Maki, 100G Lambda MSA co-chair. “With this updated specification we continue to support the industry’s needs to make specifications available in a timely manner.”
The 100G Lambda MSA Group says it will continue its work by next addressing extended reach specifications beyond 10 km. The MSA is open to any interested party who wants to join; companies are invited to join the consortium as Contributor members.
For more information or to download updated specifications, visit www.100glambda.com.
