News: Optoelectronics
2 October 2023
Lumentum addresses surge in AI and ML data traffic with high-performance optical solutions at ECOC
Lumentum Holdings Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which designs and makes optical and photonic products for optical networks and lasers for industrial and consumer markets) is showcasing its latest solutions, conducting live demonstrations, and sharing industry perspectives at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC 2023) in Glasgow, Scotland, UK (2–4 October). The firm’s booth is located at the Scottish Event Campus, in Hall Four, Stand #426.
Product highlights include availability of a 130+GBaud smart transmitter receiver optical sub-assembly (TROSA), and live demonstrations of the new 800G ZR+ and 0dBm 400G ZR+ compact transceivers. These products address the growing need from cloud data-center operators for high-performance optical solutions that support the rapid influx of data traffic and increasing bandwidth requirements driven by new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications.
In addition, on 4 October (13:20–13:35) senior principal engineer Brian Smith is delivering a Market Focus presentation ‘The 6th Generation of Fiber Optic Communications: Carrier and Spatial Division Multiplexing (CSDM)’, providing his insights on the next era of optical networking, which Lumentum introduced at its LITE 2023 Investor Event in March. The discussion complements a recently published whitepaper on this topic, now available on the Lumentum website.
New and upcoming products
New optical solutions on display at the show include:
- 800G ZR+ and 0dBm 400G ZR+ compact transceivers, which are crucial components for connecting data centers, enabling IP over DWDM by directly plugging into switches and routers. Available in QSFP-DD and OSFP form factors and utilizing Lumentum’s new 130+GBaud smart TROSA, the transceivers offer high output power and extended reach for metro and regional networks. Sampling will begin in December, with official release expected in 2024.
- InP-based 130+GBaud smart transmitter receiver optical sub-assembly (TROSA), which enables data rates of up to 800Gbps on a single wavelength, allowing for a seamless transition to faster network architectures that can support increasing data traffic from emerging AI and ML applications. Lumentum is showcasing this technology within the Lumentum 800G ZR+ demo at its stand. The product is available for sampling now, complementing the nano-iTLA, CDM and ICR optical components that are already available and being operated by multiple customers at up to 150Gbaud.
- M11 series, uncooled 980nm pump modules, which are compact, have low power consumption, comply with Telcordia GR-468-CORE standards, and offer wavelength selection for optimal spectrum control with high power output. They are well-suited for small-form-factor and pluggable erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA), high-bit-rate and high-channel-count EDFAs, and CATV distribution. The M11 series pump modules are now available for purchase.
Live demonstrations
Lumentum is also conduct and participating in live demonstrations with its latest optical solutions, including:
- 800G ZR+ and 0dBm 400G ZR+ transceivers: Lumentum is demonstrating its 800G ZR+ and 0dBm 400G ZR+ compact transceivers, highlighting the advantages of lower deployment costs for 400G and 800G networks, a simplified architecture, and interoperability through multiple sourcing options. They also support traditional carrier upgrade cycles to 400G routers.
- CPO/ELS technology: Lumentum’s ultra-high-power 1310nm distributed-feedback laser (DFB) is being demonstrated at over 400mW optical power ex-fiber at 25°C. These new ultra-high-power 13xx lasers will enable higher bandwidth for AI and ML applications by using co-packaged optics and external laser source solutions, as well as silicon photonics transceivers for the next generation of data centers.
- OIF 400ZR+ interoperability and CMIS demonstrations: At the OIF booth, Lumentum is participating in OIF’s 400ZR Interoperability demonstration through the integration of its 400ZR+ QSFP-DD and OSFP transceivers, which enable high-speed data transmission over long distances. The demonstration aims to show how optical module manufacturers are reducing power consumption and complexity in data-center interconnects, while promoting interoperability.
Lumentum is also participating in OIF’s Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) demonstration with its Open ZR+ and 400ZR QSFP-DD transceiver. CMIS has become the common, yet flexible, management interface that provides both host and module vendors an interoperable path for integration and feature development. Both demonstrations are being held in the OIF booth at Stand #304.
“As the technology landscape evolves at a breakneck pace and the relentless need for data-intensive applications persists, we’ve designed our products to support the increased level of efficiency and performance that’s essential in this new era,” emphasizes Wupen Yuen, president, Cloud and Networking, at Lumentum.