ECOC 2019
THE EXHIBITION One of the first presentations was made by Mark Nowell, Cisco Fellow, who considered what the networks will need for 400 GbE and how the latest technologies can be leveraged and extended to facilitate the next generation of optical networking. An ECOC video interview with Mark on 400 GbE and be seen here. The role of hyperscale datacentres and a glimpse into how optics will transition from the faceplate to on-board and ultimately co-packaging was put forward by Brad Booth, manager, Networking and Connectivity Hardware Azure Hardware Systems Group, Microsoft, on behalf of COBO. COBO compliant modules were also under the spotlight as Ciena speaker and COBO Electrical sub-group chair, Hugues Tournier, shared insight into how data centre traffic is driving the need for increased electrical high-speed rates, while explaining the benefits in shortening the electrical trace length and mounting optics close to the system ASICs. announcement on the opening day of ECOC, as it launched its LISA Double Access solution to the crowds. Based on the existing LISA system, the new LISA Double Access configuration is a high- density and modular cross-connect fibre management system which offers a clear physical demarcation point, providing a separation of incoming and outgoing connectivity. The system’s use of the new 1,500 mm rack reduces customers’ floor space requirements by 17%, compared to a conventional LISA setup with equivalent port density. LISA Double Access enables high-density applications for up to 2 x 100 LISA cassettes, which corresponds to a maximum density of 3,600 ports per rack. Source Photonics focused its exhibition presence on 400G, using the exhibition to showcase its full 400G portfolio. In addition, Imec announced the extension of its silicon photonics portfolio, representing important progression for 400Gb/s and HUBER+SUHNER was one of the exhibiting companies to make an
going on in terms of Fibre-to-the-X right now and we have some of the very latest solutions ready for demonstration here in Dublin,” said Martyn Cook, CTTS Training Group Chairman. MARKET FOCUS As ever, Market Focus was the centre of attention for many attendees, featuring an extended range of topics, including sessions on New Markets. Kicking off with a Market Focus talk that set the tone for quality insight for the rest of the event, Lisa Huff, Principal Analyst, Optical Components at Ovum, delivered an overview of data centre networks, discussing how optical integration and silicon photonics will affect the market. The data centre topic remained at the front of attendees’ minds thanks to ‘Integrated Silicon Photonics for Future Datacenter Applications’, delivered by Thomas Liljeberg, general manager, Integration, at Silicon Photonics Products Division at event sponsors Intel. Sessions assessed how 5G mobile communications are bringing about new opportunities for higher Quality of Service (QoS) and bandwidth, increasing competition without compromising on quality. To add to the debate on co-packaged and in-packaged optics for switching, Adit Narasimha, vice president and general manager, Optoelectronics, at Molex explored the practical considerations required, stressing the merits of different co-packaged architectures. Narasimha said, “Speeds are just getting faster and faster, and hyperscale datacentres are moving to faster switching speeds, so if you look at a switching roadmap, we’re at 12.8 Tbps with all this 400G stuff Fibre Access was high on the agenda for the afternoon sessions as the FTTH Council Market Panorama became a hot topic. Speaking on behalf of the FTTH Council was its President, Kees de Waard, who spoke about the recent league table, which not only ranked 39 European
One of the many demo’s in the FTTx area
beyond optical links, and co-packaged optics in next-generation datacentre switches. Even on the final day of the Expo, an impressive number of exhibitor announcements were made. ECOC exhibitor, Infinera, delighted visitors to its stand, by providing insight into the significance of its addition of XR Optics – a game-changing technology for transport network transformation. Essentially, XR Optics utilises independently routable Nyquist subcarriers and coherent optical aggregation capabilities, enabling network operators to design more efficient, flexible, and cost- effective transport networks optimised for the applications driving network growth. Nyquist subcarrier technology, pioneered by Infinera, divides a single high-speed wavelength into multiple efficient low-baud-rate subcarriers. The technology is enhanced with granular subcarrier control, allowing tighter spectrum packing which results in higher capacity-reach on a single fibre. Dave Welch, co-founder and chief innovation officer at Infinera gives a complete explanation of XR Optics in a video interview here. A regular feature at ECOC is the Fibre- to-the-x (FTTx) Centre and its arrival in Dublin saw an array of new products for 2019, backed by expert training provided CTTS Training Group. “There is so much
ECOC is a milestone every year for us, because all of our customers are here, all of our partners are here and for us, it’s a very important show.
Tomas Yanes, solutions and product marketing manager at Viavi Solutions
24
www.opticalconnectionsnews.com
INDUSTRY FOCUS 2019/2020
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter