Therefore, they use coherent optics that combine amplitude modulation and phase as well as orthogonal polarization in transmission with approximately 64 Gbaud rate. This configuration allows for a single laser to deliver almost 1,000km reach with lower CAPEX and OPEX.

Furthermore, the same modules combined with standard FEC modes and unified management systems eliminate the need for bulky, proprietary, single-source, non-standard modules. These new coherent interfaces have a significantly smaller footprint, with lower complexity and higher efficiency. This optimizes the link budget, consumes less space and power, provides better performance, and reduces cost per bit.

Putting it all together

These challenges have been addressed through standardization bodies, efficient engineering, and collaboration between vendors and users to deliver the latest innovations in fiber optic transmission technology.

The next generation DSP-based on low-cost, low-power 7nm technology supports standard forward error correction (FEC) modes to streamline interoperability and will be available in 2021. This will enable multiple vendors to offer the newest, standards-based pluggable modules – 400G CFP2-DCO and QSFP-DD, which will reduce costs and enable mass deployment.

The network management systems (NMS) of the ROADM devices, which redirect, block, or pass wavelengths across the network, have been upgraded as well, and they now accommodate the 400G bandwidth issues to ensure complex, flex-grid spectrum management.

400G coherent solutions started hitting the market a few years ago, but, even today, they are based on power-hungry DSPs with vendor proprietary FEC and algorithms in a large package, consuming a lot of space and reducing the capacity of the network products. Moving forward, the new 400G solutions will be smaller and consume less power by using pluggable 400G optics from a range of manufacturers.

These new model transponders and muxponders ensure that network operators will continue to enjoy the modularity, flexibility, and low-power capabilities into 400G.

The standardized 400G equipment maximizes the value of existing infrastructure, expanding third-party OTN systems at a significantly lower price point. Adopting 400G will allow operators to leverage the latest optical uplink technologies while benefiting from unprecedented levels of connectivity. The plug-and-play fiber optic modules will lower maintenance costs and total cost of ownership (TCO).

By going with off-the-shelf technologies, enterprises and DCIs can quickly, seamlessly, and cost-effectively upgrade existing, proprietary systems with standards-based technology to create a disaggregated solution. These future-proofed networks will allow them to maintain and grow their existing backbones.

The new 400G infrastructure eliminates the long-term need for significant capital investment by expanding access, metro, short-haul and long-haul fiber optic network backbone infrastructures over existing technologies to support high-capacity services with carrier-grade features and multi-rate and multi-protocol capabilities. They will extend capacities, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure minimal latency, maximum uptime, and the highest levels of security. They will fully increase network efficiency and eliminate bottlenecks. The new modules support transport over multi-degree ROADM networks as well as alien wavelengths.

Service providers as well as enterprises and DCIs will be able to use 400G to significantly expand their business opportunities. Last mile aggregation and optical Layer-1 encryption enhance business growth and service offerings, streamlining operations with high capacity, secure, and scalable fiber optic networks traversing even the longest distances. With 400G, carriers will strengthen the customer experience by delivering robust, scalable, redundant, and low-latency solutions. Adopting and offering the benefits of 400G will allow them to meet customers’ ever-growing connectivity demands—profitably.