SENKO grants AFL license to manufacture SN connectors and adapters
AFL and SENKO Advanced Components, Inc. say they have signed a technology transfer and patent license agreement that will enable AFL to manufacture SN connectors and adapters. The SENKO developed fiber-optic connector, developed for such high-speed optical transceiver form factors as the QSFP-DD and OSFP, is the subject of an intermateability standard under development in IEC as IEC 61754-36 Type SAC connector.
The duplex SN connector uses LC-style 1.25-mm O.D. Zirconia ferrules for connectivity in hyperscale, edge, enterprise, or co-location data center interconnect (DCI). The SN connector provides individual and independent duplex fiber breakout at a quad-style transceiver (e.g., QSFP, QSFP-DD, OSFP) in a manner that is more efficient, reliable, and scalable than the MPO connector, SENKO says. It also provides 3X higher density than LC connectors. In addition to adoption by the QSFP-DD and OSFP MSAs, the SFP-DD has also adopted the SN as their independent duo-style interface, mainly for wireless fronthaul (see "SENKO touts adoption of SN Connector, including for optical transceivers").
“We are excited about our licensing agreement with SENKO on the SN connector which will provide our hyperscale customers with a new connector form, fit, and function to enable data transmissions of 400G and beyond,” commented Robert Dennelly, director of engineering and product management at AFL. “With the new SN connector, hyperscale customers will be able to easily link individual duplex fiber connectors into QSFP-DD and OSFP transceivers, providing high-density, efficient installation and cost-effective deployment.”
“AFL is one of the most successful companies in the telecommunication and data communication market and we are very excited with our partnership. We foresee the SN interface to be synonymous with high-speed DCI and wireless fronthaul connectivity, especially with the standardization effort of the SN at the IEC,” added Jim Hasegawa, executive vice president at SENKO.
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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