NOVEMBER 1, 2006 -- Nine networking, system, optical module, semiconductor, and connector companies have formed the X40 Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) Group, a collaboration to develop a new, integrated, data-agnostic, multi-rate optical transceiver intended to support a range of 40-Gbit/sec links that may be used for telecom (SONET/SDH and G.709) and datacom (packet switching) applications.
X40 MSA Group members include Aeluros, Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; Emcore Corporation; Finisar Corporation; Infinera Corporation; Juniper Networks, Inc.; MergeOptics GmbH; Tyco Electronics Corporation; and Vitesse Semiconductor, Inc.
The X40 MSA is expected to enable network equipment manufacturers to increase port density and system data throughput, extend link distances, reduce power, and reduce cost per Gbit/sec significantly compared to existing 40-Gbit/sec offerings in the market. The hot-pluggable transceiver module utilizes a mechanical form-factor similar to XENPAK to integrate four transmit and four receive channels and optically multiplex them into a single pair (transmit and receive) of optical fibers. Supported nominal per-channel data rates range from 9.953 Gbits/sec to 11.1 Gbits/sec, providing an integrated data throughput range of 39.8 Gbits/sec to 44.4 Gbits/sec. The X40 module's electrical interface to the host board is based on four lanes of XFI as defined by SFF-INF-8077i.
"The X40 transceiver module will make 40-Gbit/sec networks more economical by bringing the cost points and maturity of 10-Gbit/sec components to the 40-Gbit/sec world," contends Drew Perkins, chairman of the X40 MSA Group and co-founder and CTO of Infinera.
"The deployment of 40-Gbit/sec networks has been limited by the high costs of many components and modules required for 40-Gbit/sec systems," adds Dr. Daryl Inniss, vice president of Ovum-RHK's Communication Components research. "Bringing together a broad group of leading industry players to focus on producing a standard X40 MSA can lead to greater deployment of 40-Gbit/sec systems and lower costs for customers."
The initial X40 physical media interface will be defined to meet the requirements for short reach metro access links up to 10 km. Current 40-Gbit/sec transceivers based on the industry-standard 300-pin MSA are generally limited to 2 km before chromatic dispersion makes compensation required. The X40 will use four uncooled CWDM wavelengths around 1310 nm and will carry 10-Gbit/sec data per channel with the same 10-km reach as 10GBASE-LR interfaces. The X40 also will feature digital diagnostic capability to monitor link performance.
The X40 MSA group will make details of the specification available to the industry so that other optical transceiver manufacturers can produce compatible products, and system vendors can begin to design equipment to utilize the transceivers.
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