Infinera offers Infinite Network pluggable coherent module strategy details
Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN), as part of its Infinite Network strategy announcement February 19, revealed that it will offer pluggable coherent modules to the market as part of its plans to meet edge network demands. The company has since supplied additional details about this aspect of the Infinite Network.
The optical transceivers will leverage the generation of Infinera’s Infinite Capacity Engine (ICE) that comes after the newly announced ICE6. The timing of that new generation, dubbed ICE6+1, is not yet being revealed; Infinera said via a response to emailed questions that pluggable modules with ICE6+1 capabilities will come after ICE6-enabled platforms reach the market, a milestone expected next year. Infinera added it will use the flexibility ICE6+1 will enable, alongside the spectrum-splitting “virtual laser” technology Infinera described last week, to support transmission rates ranging from 100 Gbps to 400 Gbps. Infinera said it expects to let customer requirements dictate the order in which support of the various transmission rates reaches the market. When these transmission rates are offered, they will be delivered via standard optical module form factors, such as QSFP28, QSFP-DD, and OSFP.
How these modules will be produced remains a topic of discussion, Infinera stated. However, the company appears to be willing to offer them for use on platforms other than their own. “We expect they will have application in a wide variety of systems,” the company wrote. “There are actually a number of significant network architectural possibilities opened up by our approach here that we’re still exploring with key customers.”
For related articles, visit the Optical Technologies Topic Center.
For more information on optical modules and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.
Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher
Stephen Hardy has covered fiber optics for more than 15 years, and communications and technology for more than 30 years. He is responsible for establishing and executing Lightwave's editorial strategy across its digital magazine, website, newsletters, research and other information products. He has won multiple awards for his writing.
Contact Stephen to discuss:
- Contributing editorial material to the Web site or digital magazine
- The direction of a digital magazine issue, staff-written article, or event
- Lightwave editorial attendance at industry events
- Arranging a visit to Lightwave's offices
- Coverage of announcements
- General questions of an editorial nature