100-Gb/s and beyond transceiver technologies

First generation 100-Gb/s Ethernet transceiver architecture, standards and components are presented. Second generation 100-Gb/s architecture, standards and enabling photonic integration component technology are then described. Extension of this technology is shown to support cost effective 400-Gb/s Ethernet interfaces. The next OTN data rate then also becomes 400-Gb/s to efficiently carry a 400-Gb/s Ethernet payload. Further data rate increase to ⩾1-Tb/s is not possible with existing technology, and will require completely new technology R&D effort.

► Mainstream, high volume 100-Gb/s Ethernet optics use 4 channel WDM (DFB) or parallel (VCSEL) NRZ laser PIC technologies.
► 400-Gb/s is a likely next Ethernet data rate based on extending 100-Gb/s NRZ laser PIC technologies to 16 channels.
► To efficiently carry 400-Gb/s Ethernet, the next OTN rate, OTU-5, will likely be ∼450-Gb/s.
► 1.6-Tb/s is a likely follow on data rate requiring new technologies such as complex modulation PICs and CMOS DSP ICs.