Background

The needs for large-capacity optical networks has been increasing due to the growth of cloud services based on IOT, AI (Big Data) and streaming contents. Subsequently, hyperscale data centers have emerged, in which Internet content providers seamlessly interconnect multiple data centers located in remote locations around urban areas to build large-scale cloud data center networks. The demand for higher capacity and lower cost data center interconnects (DCI) that connect these hyperscale data centers has rapidly increased, and to meet these demands, the OIF, a standardization organization, has been working on the specification of the 400G transceiver "400ZR" for next-generation DCI networks.
FOC has developed coherent DSP (Digital Signal Processor) in a 7 nm CMOS process, silicon photonics integrated optical devices and 400ZR transceivers that comply with the OIF Implementation Agreement 400ZR using high density packaging technology. FOC has started to expand sales of these products in the second half of fiscal 2021.
These coherent transceivers can be installed directly into switches and routers, facilitating 400G DWDM transmission and achieving higher capacity compared to the currently available coherent transceivers such as 100G/200Gbps CFP2-DCO (Digital Coherent Optics) and CFP2-ACO (Analog Coherent Optics).
At OFC 2022, FOC will demonstrate multi-vendor interoperability using transceivers of other vendor members of the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF).

Key features

・High performance, compact, low power coherent DSPs with the latest 7 nm CMOS process, small size, low power Silicon Photonics COSA (coherent optical sub-assembly) and ITLA (integrated tunable laser assembly) provide compact pluggable and low power 400ZR transceivers in QSFP56-DD and OSFP form factors.

・OIF Implementation Agreement 400ZR compliance ensures interoperability with third-party products, making it easier for customers to purchase from multiple vendors.

・To improve availability of a data center, distribute and optimize traffic, and improve resource efficiency by seamlessly interconnecting to a plurality of data centers.

*This product is partly based on the results of a grant project by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).