Windstream Wholesale to co-develop 0-dBm 400G optical transceivers with II-VI
Windstream Wholesale says it will work with II-VI Inc. (IIVI) to co-develop 400G 0-dBm QSFP-DD optical transceivers for use in its fiber network. Such transceivers will decrease cost, power consumption and network complexity as they’re deployed in the service provider’s disaggregated network.
Windstream first discussed its use of 400G ZR+ pluggables this past February (see “Windstream Wholesale runs 400G ZR+ transmission more than 1000 km in live network”). The company announced its ICON Intelligent Converged Optical Network open and disaggregated network architecture five months later (see “Windstream launches ICON Intelligent Converged Optical Network”). The new 400G optical modules will provide further efficiencies, including the support of greater faceplate densities as well as pointing the way toward IP over DWDM supported by ROADM-based photonic layers in applications beyond point-to-point links. Speaking as part of a webinar titled “Beyond 400ZR-Expanding the Reach of Pluggable Coherent” and hosted by Cignal AI, Windstream Wholesale Vice President, Architecture and Technology Art Nichols stated that his company sees IP over DWDM as a good option for its packet-optical edge infrastructure, which could have upwards of 5,000 nodes.
“This game-changing partnership is a vital step toward making 400G wavelengths the default deployment service for large wholesale and hyperscale customers,” said Buddy Bayer, chief network officer at Windstream. “II-VI’s high transmit power 0-dBm 400G QSFP-DD DCO transceivers will enable Windstream to deploy greatly simplified network architectures, by optically connecting routers directly to access, metro, and regional transport networks without additional intermediary interfaces, eliminating an entire layer of optical equipment. This revolution in IP-over-DWDM network architecture achieves significant savings in upfront costs and ongoing expenses, affording Windstream a highly competitive operational model.”
II-VI currently offers a CFP2-DCO 400G module as well as several of the components that would comprise a QSFP-DD optical transceiver.
“Our partnership with Windstream will fast-track the development of a disruptive 400G transmission technology that builds on our award-winning integrated coherent transmitter and receiver optical subassembly, or IC-TROSA, which itself is based on our advanced and proprietary indium phosphide technology along with our industry-leading opto-electronic integration platform,” added Matthias Berger, vice president, coherent technology, at II-VI. “Indium phosphide is the intrinsic enabler of the 400G transceiver’s high 0-dBm output power yet with low enough power consumption to be uniquely suitable for QSFP-DD.”
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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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