News: Optoelectronics
8 April 2024
Adtran and Vertilas unveil first ultra-low-power 100G PAM4 single-mode VCSEL technology
At the Optical Fiber Communication conference (OFC 2024) in San Diego, CA, USA (26–28 March), Adtran Inc of Huntsville, AL, USA (which provides open, disaggregated networking and communications solutions for voice, data, video and internet communications) and vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) maker Vertilas GmbH of Garching bei München, Germany announced what is claimed to be the industry’s first 100Gb/s PAM4 single-mode VCSEL technology with capabilities up to 1.6Tb/s. It is said to set new standards for low power consumption in optical engines and modules, with up to 80% reduction in power on the transmit optics compared with conventional solutions.
Tailored specifically for the rigorous demands of intra-data-center operations and AI/ML workloads, Adtran’s latest offering consumes less than 2pJ/bit, including the laser driver. This significantly undercuts existing industry standards, including those cited by co-packaged optics. The advance is set to extend the capabilities of Adtran’s MicroMux family of small-form-factor pluggable transceivers. A step towards meeting the needs of the rapidly expanding generative AI application market, Adtran’s latest innovation addresses the growing demand for robust, high-capacity and environmentally friendly data processing solutions.
“As the importance of data volume and speed escalates, the demand for increased bandwidth and enhanced energy efficiency accelerates. Our introduction of the market’s first 100Gb/s PAM4 single-mode VCSEL technology, scalable to 1.6Tb/s, epitomizes our proactive approach to tackling these emerging requirements. By pushing the limits of speed and significantly reducing power consumption, we’re creating tomorrow’s benchmarks,” says Ross Saunders, general manager of optical engines at Adtran. “Our new technology promises to significantly improve intra-data-center connectivity and AI application efficiencies, merging high performance with long-term sustainability,” he adds. “As we prepare for the leap towards 800Gb/s and 1.6Tb/s applications, we’re enhancing the foundations of efficient, high-capacity data ecosystems worldwide.”
Building on Adtran’s MicroMux family, the new VCSEL technology leverages a short-cavity single-mode design and is based on indium phosphide. This enables it to operate across both O-band and C-band wavelengths, delivering 100Gb/s per channel. By stacking multiple single-mode lasers into arrays, this approach achieves throughput of 800Gb/s and 1.6Tb/s, ensuring superior performance with a significant reduction in power consumption and costs. This enhanced energy efficiency presents an advantage for IP router and Ethernet switch faceplate density, says Adtran. Also, its versatility extends to supporting a wide array of applications from DR4/8/16 to various FR4 links within optical engines, all while maintaining power consumption below 200mW per lane.
“As applications such as generative AI proliferate and enterprises expand their AI clusters, the need for advanced optical interconnects capable of supporting Terabit connectivity has reached a critical juncture,” notes Adtran’s chief technology officer Christoph Glingener. “Our 100Gb/s PAM4 single-mode VCSEL technology meets this challenge head-on. It enables energy efficiency and the capacity for higher-density deployments while at the same time addressing manufacturing, testing and assembly costs,” he adds. “This technology supports throughput of up to 800Gb/s and 1.6Tb/s, significantly reducing operational expenses while enhancing network capabilities. Our approach underscores a commitment to delivering sustainable, high-capacity networking solutions that break through existing barriers, readying networks for the next wave of AI infrastructure development.”
