20 September 2011

JDSU demos QSFP+ modules for 40G transmission in enterprise, LAN and SAN networks

In booth 1622 at the European Conference and Exhibition on Optical Communications (ECOC 2011) in Geneva, Switzerland this week (19-21 September), optoelectronic chip and module maker JDSU of Milpitas, CA, USA is demonstrating quad small-form-factor pluggable plus (QSFP+) transceiver modules for 40G optical transmission up to 10km in enterprise, local-area (LAN) and storage-area networks (SAN). Leveraging key building blocks from JDSU’s optical communications portfolio, the QSFP+ modules are much smaller and provide lower power dissipation compared to older solutions.

JDSU says that the increasing use of cloud computing, online video, voice over IP (VOIP) and other internet applications are driving large amounts of content through enterprise, LAN and SAN, and telecom networks. Network operators are under pressure to deploy high-performance and high-density optical products to support 40G and 100G bit rates while continuing to drive down operating expenses.

Alan Lowe, president of JDSU’s Communication & Commercial Optical Products (CCOP) segment, says that the new modules exemplify the firm’s commitment to providing a complete range of client-side and line-side optical solutions that are affordable and efficient for 40G networks and beyond. 

The new modules for both short-reach and long-reach applications are currently being sampled with network equipment makers and firms focused on high-speed computing solutions. JDSU expects the products to be commercially available by first-quarter 2012.

The QSFP+ long-reach module generates and modulates four different wavelengths of light at 10G speeds and combines them into a single optical fiber for client-side network transmission. It is also capable of receiving the four light channels and reconstructing the 40G signal, providing full transceiver capability at 40G for distances up to 10km.

The QSFP+ short-reach module supports shorter distances of less than 100m. It uses JDSU’s vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) technology to generate four different optical signals, each modulated at 10G and transmitted over ribbon fiber. The module is also able to receive this incoming light and reconstruct the 40G data stream to provide a full transceiver solution. It is designed to supports both 40GE and OTU3 protocols.

JDSU notes that the benefits of QSFP+ include: compact size (compared with older and much larger CFP modules, saving value real estate in data centers); hot pluggable ability (network operators can add new QSFP+ modules as more bandwidth is required without interruption to service); lower power dissipation (less than 3.5W, compared with 8W in older CFP modules); high performance (leveraging JDSU’s optical communications technology portfolio and photonic integration expertise); and long reach (up to 10km for client-side optical transmissions in enterprise, LAN, SAN and telecom networks).

Tags: JDSU QSFP+ modules

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