Hitachi, Ltd. and Opnext, Inc. today announced the first wide temperature range operation of 1310-nm 25Gbit/s EA-DFB lasers for 100Gbit Ethernet 10km single-mode fiber (SMF) application at OFC/NFOEC 2008.

    A study by the IEEE HSSG (High Speed Study Group) showed that by the year 2010, the bandwidth required in core networking will be best satisfied by 100Gbit/s interfaces. Furthermore, bandwidth needs are expected to double every eighteen months resulting in demand for multi-port 100Gbit/s systems. In the IEEE 802.3ba taskforce, a 10km SMF (single mode fiber) 100Gbit/s Ethernet specification is being discussed. For this application, 1310-nm four channels by 25Gbit/s WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) transmission is the most attractive technology. One of the technology challenges is to achieve 1310-nm 25Gbit/s WDM optical devices. CWDM (course wavelength division multiplexing) technology is expected to be the most cost effective solution due to the wide wavelength pitch that enables 100 percent of wavelength yield and less strict or no temperature control.

    Hitachi and Opnext have demonstrated EA-DFB lasers operating at 25Gbit/s with wavelengths of 1290-, 1310-, 1330- and 1350-nm. The 25Gbit/s operation was achieved using high speed device technology which has been already confirmed in 1550-nm 40Gbit/s EA-DFB lasers currently used commercially in 40Gbit/s transceivers. A wide temperature range operation from 0ºC to 85ºC was also reported. This was achieved using advanced aluminum-based material system in the EA (electro-absorption) modulator section. This semiconductor material system has a temperature tolerant band-gap structure which decreases the temperature dependent performance of the modulator.

    These EA-DFB (electro-absorption modulator with integrated distributed feedback laser) lasers demonstrate the technical feasibility of the CWDM grid which achieves low cost 100Gbit/s optical transceiver modules with low power consumption and compact size which is expected to accelerate the adoption of 100Gbit/s interfaces in the network.

    Avanex Corporation today announced at OFC/NFOEC 2008 Expo the release of new 10G XFP transceivers suitable for 40km and 80km transmission applications in access and metropolitan networks. The new PowerPort™ 2080, for TDM applications, and the PowerPort 2180 for DWDM applications, are 10 Gb/s EML-based transceivers that combine leading-edge optics and RF electronics to create a high performance and lower power-dissipation reach capability up to 80km.

    The dramatically improved thermal performance of the PowerPort XFP products enables customers to achieve extended reach in any standard XFP enclosure. This key benefit enables higher port density on the system board, reducing overall cost to the system provider and providing excellent opportunities for system expansion. The PowerPort XFP platforms support multiple rates up to 11.3 Gb/s, and are fully compliant with all ITU-T and XFP MSA standards.

    Both PowerPort versions are in production and available for sampling. The PowerPort 2080 and 2180 XFP transceivers were displayed at OFC Expo from February 25th - 28th, 2008, Hall C, booth 1734.

    Market watch was keep going on today. This three-day series of panel sessions engaged the applications and business communities in the field of optical communications. Presentations and panel discussions feature esteemed guest speakers from industry, research, and the investment community. They addressed technology trends and business opportunities. Three topics were discussed in today’s panel talk from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm in exhibit floor.

 State of the Optical Industry: Achievements Challenges and Path to Profitability.
 From 10G to 40G to 100G to…? What’s Happening in the Fast-Moving World of High-Speed Components and Systems?

 Reconfigurable Optical Networks: Beyond Core ROADMs?