News: Optoelectronics
10 February 2020
AOI launches 25Gbps LWDM cooled TO-packaged lasers for 5G front-haul
Applied Optoelectronics Inc (AOI) of Sugar Land, TX, USA – a designer and manufacturer of optical components, modules and equipment for fiber access networks in the Internet data-center, cable TV broadband, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and telecom markets – has announced the availability (for sample requests) of 25Gbps local-area network-wavelength division multiplexing (LWDM) cooled transistor outline (TO)-packaged laser diodes for 5G front-haul applications.
In emerging 5G networks, the front-haul link is the critical fiber-optic segment between the antenna unit (radio head) and the remotely located base station, from which connections to the wider telecom network emanate. The 25G LWDM solution for 5G front-haul allows for sharing of the existing fiber infrastructure, reducing 5G network deployment costs, saving fiber resources, and improving 5G performance. Because the remote radio heads (RRHs) are often installed outdoors in environmentally challenging locations, the ability to operate reliably over a wide operating temperature range is critical.
AOI says that its 25G LWDM TO-cans operate at industrial temperatures between -40°C and +85°C with low power consumption. The devices are housed in a temperature-controlled, hermetically sealed TO format. The output power can exceed 9dBm and an eye-mask margin (EMM) of greater than 30% is achievable with the IEEE 802.3cc standard eye mask.
“As we begin to see widespread deployment of advanced 5G mobile communications networks in 2020, we believe that AOI’s ability to supply the needed LWDM channels and quantities of high-performance laser diodes is an important consideration for our customers,” says David Chen, assistant VP & senior director of product management. “Our proprietary laser fabrication process and in-house epitaxy, fabrication and packaging operations allow us to develop new varieties of laser diodes with the needed temperature operating parameters, and also rapidly transition these devices into high-volume production to meet our customers’ needs.”
