Avago, Corning show 100G embedded optical link with 550-m reach

Avago Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: AVGO) and Corning Inc. (NYSE:GLW) have collaborated to provide long-reach, high-density embedded 100G optical connectivity products for applications ranging from 10 Gigabit Ethernet to 100 Gigabit Ethernet for enterprise and data center network applications. The combined offering can support the latter application at reaches as great as 550 m, Avago asserts.

Avago says the 550-m link distance was achieved using its latest series of MicroPOD and MiniPOD optical engine transmitter and receiver devices to support 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) data transmission over a 550-m fiber-optic cable from Corning’s PretiumEDGE line equipped with Corning ClearCurve OM4 bend-insensitive multimode fiber. The company originally touted the pairing at OFC 2014 last month.

“As the data network infrastructure transitions to 100G data speeds to meet high bandwidth demands, the need for long-reach high-density 100G embedded optical connectivity is imperative for modern data centers and enterprise networks,” said Philip Gadd, vice president and general manager of the fiber-optics product division at Avago. “Together with Corning, we are now able to support a high-density 100G embedded optical link beyond 500 m.”

There is an emerging need for “mid-reach” 100G optical interconnects capable of supporting distances beyond the 150 m over OM4 multimode fiber supported by 100GBase-SR10 and the 100 m the upcoming 100GBase-SR4 specification is expected to support. In addition to the work with Corning, Avago has joined the PSM4 group, which will focus on a parallel interface that will use four singlemode fibers, each transmitting 25 Gbps (see “PSM4 MSA Group targets alternative for data center 100G”).

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