Communications semiconductor developers ClariPhy Communications, Inc. and Cortina Systems, Inc. say that designers can now effectively pair ClariPhy’s CL4010, a 40-Gbps single-chip coherent transceiver, and Cortina’s CS604x and CS600x 40G/10G Optical Transport Network (OTN) Processor families in coherent-enabled 40-Gbps optical equipment designs.
Having proven the devices are interoperable, ClariPhy and Cortina say that designers can now accelerate the design of 40-Gbps line cards and modules that leverage DP-QPSK with coherent detection by using their respective semiconductors.
ClariPhy began deliveries of its CL4010 earlier this year, with Oclaro as the first announced customer (see “ClariPhy’s latest funding round includes Nokia Siemens Networks”). The CL4010 is the first single-chip coherent transceiver on the market and competes with the multi-chip offering of Cisco/CoreOptics. PMC-Sierra also has announced plans to sample a competing device, the POLO 40G, during the third quarter of this year (see “PMC-Sierra offers SoC for 40-Gbps DP-QPSK coherent designs”).
Cortina CS600x and CS604x families of 40G/10G Optical Transport Network (OTN) Processors are well established, having debuted in 2009 (see “Cortina unveils next-gen optical transport platform”). For 40-Gbps applications, the devices offer Cortina’s 40G Strong Forward Error Correction algorithm.
Oclaro, for one, is happy with the partnership. “The demonstrated interoperability is a significant benefit to network equipment manufacturers,” says Terry Unter, president and general manager of Optical Networks Solutions at Oclaro.” It ensures integration of critical features, such as mapping and multiplexing of a wide range of protocols, while leveraging MSA-compliant merchant 40G coherent transponder modules for the best performance and lowest cost. This solution, which is supported by Oclaro’s 40G coherent transponder module, will enable coherent WDM systems to serve an even greater application space because of the integration of strong FEC for longer distances and more challenging fiber plants.”
The two companies appear to have additional applications in their sights as well. “Our work with Cortina lays the foundation for a compatible ecosystem to accelerate deployment of 40G optical coherent networks by leveraging deployed UFEC technology from Cortina and the industry’s first single-chip 40G coherent SoC from ClariPhy,” said Reza Norouzian, vice president of sales and business development at ClariPhy. “This partnership will also align our roadmaps and accelerate compatibility for next-generation SoCs targeting 100G and beyond coherent optical networks.”
The demand for coherent-enabled 40-Gbps and 100-Gbps transmission technology should remain robust for the next several years. "Coherent technology will become the dominant transmission technique for long haul WDM over the next 5 years, with large carriers and major OEM’s leading the way. When combined with ROADM-based networking, coherent transmission has large cost/bit/km advantages over traditional techniques," said Andrew Schmitt, directing analyst, optical, at Infonetics Research. “Off-the-shelf SoC and ASSP solutions are important in order to bring Coherent technology to a wider base of equipment suppliers.”
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