At OFC, Applied Micro Launches Optical Networking Devices

At the OFC 2014 Optical Networking conference in San Francisco this week Applied Micro launched a 240Gbps Optical Transport Network smart PHY family of devices, Broadcom introduced 802.3bj compliant physical layer devices, and Acacia Communications rolled out its Coherent 100G CFP module.

Applied Micro launches 240Gbps OTN. Applied Micro Circuits (AMCC) announced a 240Gbps Ethernet/Optical Transport Network (OTN) smart PHY family of devices for Carrier-Ethernet and data center connectivity applications. Built for cloud and enterprise data centers, the new products are designed to deliver unsurpassed density, low power and improved total cost of ownership. New X12, X24, X120 and X24 models offer up to quadruple device density and half the power consumption compared to competing solutions and address large and rapidly growing markets. The X-Weave devices support a wide array of interfaces for 10/40/100G and seamlessly interface with optical and copper inter-connect technologies. The new new products introduce IEEE-compliant Media Access Control Security, or MACSec, to address the emerging demands for wire-rate network security in service provider and data center applications. “Applied Micro’s new X-Weave products enable next generation Ethernet and OTN platforms to address the insatiable demand for network bandwidth. Importantly, the addition of MACSec to all ports at every speed allows for privacy without compromise. These products build upon AppliedMicro’s extensive OTN experience, world-class analog/mixed-signal expertise and leading-edge semiconductor technology,” said Francesco Caggioni, Senior Director of Marketing & Technology, AppliedMicro.

Broadcom announces new 802.3bj physical layer devices. Broadcom (BRCM) announced an IEEE 802.3bj compliant physical layer devices (Lite-PHYs). Designed for 100G datacenter and enterprise front panel and backplane interconnect applications, the low-power 28 nanometer BCM8207x and BCM8238x Lite-PHYs support 4X25G backplane and line cards for the rollout of 100 Gigabit per second (Gbps) switches. The new models allow customers to design IEEE 802.3bj-compliant 100G products that support 100GBase-CR4/SR4/LR4 on the front panel and 100GBase-KR4 on the backplane. "Broadcom's latest Lite-PHY devices pave the way for the development of 100 Gbps switches that support the high speed requirements of the most technologically-advanced cloud and mobility infrastructure environments as well as rich video content," said Lorenzo Longo, Broadcom Vice President and General Manager of Physical Layer  Products.  "Our 802.3bj compliant Lite-PHYs enable OEMS and carriers to meet ever increasing traffic requirements by providing the needed performance and low power efficiency."

Acacia Communications launches 100G CFP module. Acacia Communications announced that the company is shipping samples of its Coherent 100G CFP (C Form-factor Pluggable) module to customers. The substantial reductions in size, cost and power consumption make the AC100-CFP especially attractive for carriers and content providers deploying 100G in the fast growing Metro segment. “We are enabling cost-sensitive metro network operators to move to 100G and achieve significant performance and capacity benefits,” said Acacia President and CEO Raj Shanmugaraj. “Our 100G DWDM Coherent CFP module offers carriers and content providers optimal flexibility, at price points comparable to non-coherent short reach or client CFPs like LR4 or multi-wavelength ODB. Furthermore the AC100-CFP’s lowest power and smallest form factor enable the highest densities for Coherent interfaces in the market, while reducing the total cost per bit. Coherent CFP is a technology game changer similar to XFP for 10G and our AC-100 CFP is the first to market.”