News: Optoelectronics
3 April 2025
Keysight, NTT Innovative Devices and Lumentum give first joint demo 448Gbps data transmission
At the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC 2025) in San Francisco (1-3 April), Keysight Technologies Inc of Santa Rosa, CA, USA, Japan-based NTT Innovative Devices Corp, and 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) have given joint demonstration of 448Gbps data transmission using 224GBaud PAM4 optical technology.
This collaboration addresses the escalating bandwidth demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications, enabling the development of power-efficient 3.2Tbps interfaces for future data-center networks.
Keysight says that it is enabling the industry in the early R&D stage for 448Gbps, during which experts are exploring various modulation schemes, including PAM4, PAM6 and PAM8. Notably, for 224Gbps optical transmission, the industry has already embraced PAM4 as the preferred choice, highlighting the commitment to pushing the boundaries of high-speed data transmission and setting new standards for the future.
AI and ML applications require ultra-fast, real-time data processing. The 448Gbps transmission speed accelerates data movement between compute and network nodes, reducing latency and enhancing AI/ML model efficiency. As these models become increasingly complex, higher data throughput is essential to support scalability without bottlenecks. Additionally, this breakthrough improves data-center efficiency, reducing operational costs and minimizing environmental impact.
The demonstration utilized two Keysight M8199B Arbitrary Waveform Generators with NTT’s advanced frequency-domain interleaver to generate 448Gbps electrical signals with 224Gbaud PAM4. This signal was used to drive a Lumentum indium phosphide (InP) externally-modulated laser (EML), showcasing the potential for high-speed, power-efficient optical interconnects. The generation of 240Gbaud PAM4 was also demonstrated using the same hardware.
The demonstration featured the latest 224GBaud-and-beyond PAM4 technology, which enables 448Gbps-per-lane data transmission and paves the way for developing power-efficient 3.2T interfaces for data-center networks (DCN). This achievement is claimed to represent a significant leap forward in achieving higher data rates and improved signal integrity.
The joint demonstration consisted of:
- Keysight’s M8199B Arbitrary Waveform Generator (claimed to be the industry’s fastest AWG) operating at 256GSa/s with analog bandwidth exceeding 80GHz;
- Keysight’s N1032A DCA-X Sampling Oscilloscope, suitable for analyzing high-baud-rate optical signals with up to 120GHz optical bandwidth;
- NTT’s frequency-domain interleaver (available as Keysight M8159A), which extends the bandwidth of the M8199B AWG;
- Lumentum’s high-bandwidth InP externally modulated laser (EML).
“We see this collaboration between the three companies as an important step in further evolving next-generation high-speed optical communications and the AI infrastructure,” says Dr Akimasa Kaneko, executive VP of NTT Innovative Devices’ Photonic Component business group. “We are confident that we have prepared the fundamental technologies necessary to realize 400G/lane in a timely manner,” he adds.
“Achieving 448Gbps transmission is a significant milestone in advancing optical interconnects for AI-driven cloud infrastructure,” says Dr Matthew Sysak, chief technology officer of Lumentum’s Cloud and Networking Platform. “This collaboration underscores Lumentum’s expertise in photonics and our commitment to delivering cutting-edge optical components that support the rapid expansion of AI and cloud data centers. As AI and ML applications require real-time processing of ever-growing datasets, our high-performance externally modulated lasers will be instrumental in enabling faster, more efficient and scalable data-center networks,” he adds.
“This collaboration showcases the cutting-edge advancements in high-speed optical communication and highlights the combined strengths of Keysight, NTT Innovative Devices, and Lumentum,” says Dr Joachim Peerlings, VP of Network and Data Center Solutions at Keysight. “This demo is another milestone for Keysight to enable the industry in advancing the AI infrastructure, laying the foundation for future generations to innovate in new and transformative ways.”
The Keysight M8199B Arbitrary Waveform Generator and Keysight N1032A/B DCA-X Sampling Oscilloscopes are part of the Keysight Artificial Intelligence (KAI) architecture, a portfolio of end-to-end solutions designed to help customers scale AI processing capacity in data centers.
Lumentum showcasing optical innovations for cloud, AI and networking infrastructure at OFC
Optical communications Keysight
