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OIF Releases 800ZR Coherent Interface Implementation Agreement (IA) and Key 400ZR IA Updates, Addressing Market Demands for Scalable, Interoperable, High-Capacity Solutions

Fremont, CA – Oct. 30, 2024 – In its ongoing commitment to meet evolving market demands for interoperability and address real-world network requirements, OIF has released its highly anticipated 800ZR coherent interface implementation agreement (IA). OIF has also released updates to the foundational 400ZR coherent optical interfaces IA.

The new 800ZR IA, developed through a systematic process driven by OIF’s network operator and vendor members, defines the requirements for an 800G coherent line interface and frame format for single-span, amplified 80-120 km Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) links, specifically targeting data center interconnect (DCI) applications.

“This IA represents a critical milestone in expanding the capacity and efficiency of DCI solutions,” said Karl Gass, OIF Physical and Link Layer (PLL) Working Group (WG) Optical Vice Chair. “The 800ZR IA builds on the success of OIF’s transformational 400ZR work, providing a clear pathway for vendors and network operators to implement scalable, interoperable 800G solutions.”

The 800ZR IA enables Ethernet client interfaces, starting at a minimum of 100GE, to scale up to 800G aggregate bandwidth over a single coherent line interface. It specifies the Ethernet client mappings, frame format, forward-error correction (FEC), modulation and optical characteristics needed for interoperable 800ZR implementations. An important feature of this IA is its focus on low-power, cost-effective coherent solutions in small form-factor pluggable modules, which provide high port densities typically found in client optics.

This IA marks a significant advancement in 800ZR interoperability, demonstrating its potential to deliver scalable solutions for high-capacity optical links over extended distances.​ OIF recently demonstrated the first multivendor interoperability of 800ZR coherent interfaces at ECOC 2024 in Frankfurt, showcasing the technology’s readiness for deployment in high-capacity DCI applications.

The updates to the 400ZR IA (3.0) focus on addressing identified deficiencies and clarifying several parameter definitions. These updates aim to enhance interoperability and improve the implementation of 400ZR solutions across the industry.

The 400ZR IA has seen rapid adoption since its introduction, with 400ZR modules now widely available from multiple vendors. OIF recently released a success story showcasing the significant industry impact of the 400ZR IA, highlighting how it has transformed the market by enabling interoperable, cost-effective solutions for data center interconnects.

“400ZR and its derivatives are by far the most successful coherent technology of all time,” said Scott Wilkinson, Lead Analyst, Cignal AI. “Without 400ZR, data center development would not be where it is today.”

About OIF

OIF is where the optical networking industry’s interoperability work gets done. With more than 25 years of effecting forward change in the industry, OIF represents the dynamic ecosystem of 150+ industry leading network operators, system vendors, component vendors and test equipment vendors collaborating to develop interoperable electrical, optical and control solutions that directly impact the industry’s ecosystem and facilitate global connectivity in the open network world. Connect with OIF on LinkedIn, on X at @OIForum and at https://www.oiforum.com/.

PR Contact:

Leah Wilkinson

Wilkinson + Associates for OIF

leah@wilkinson.associates

703-907-0010

 

 

OIF Leads the Charge for Interoperability at ECOC 2024

34 Member Companies to Showcase Cutting-Edge Solutions, OIF Experts to Speak in Three Market Focus Sessions

Fremont, Calif. – OIF today unveiled new details on its live interoperability demonstrations at ECOC 2024, highlighting advancements across critical areas such as 800ZR, 400ZR and multi-span optics; Common Electrical I/O (CEI) CEI-112G and CEI-224G; Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) and Energy Efficient Interfaces (EEI) & Co-Packaging.

The demonstrations showcased in Booth #B83 Sept. 23-25 in Frankfurt, Germany, feature collaboration among 34 member companies and highlight the organization’s leadership in interoperability across a range of cutting-edge technologies.

In addition to the demonstrations, OIF experts will lead Market Focus Sessions on Coherent Optics, CMIS and EEI.

“Live interoperability demonstrations are essential for the industry to witness firsthand the seamless integration of technologies,” said Dave Brown, OIF Director of Communications, and Nokia. “OIF’s demos at ECOC, featuring contributions from system, component and test-equipment vendors, underscore OIF’s leadership in interoperability across key technologies that are crucial in shaping the standards that will define the next decade of our industry.”

Interoperability Demonstrations at Booth #B83

800ZR, 400ZR and Multi-Span Optics – Unveiling Optical Breakthroughs: The pluggable coherent optics demonstration will showcase progress in the latest advancements in 800ZR, 400ZR and ZR+ optics interoperability, offering a comprehensive view of their capabilities and applications. The demo highlights include the first public 800ZR multivendor DSP interop; OpenZR+, 100ZR and OpenROADM/ITU-T, all over multiple, multi-span networks; and OIF’s foundational 400ZR collocated on the same single-span network as 800ZR.

CEI-112G-Linear & CEI-224G Interoperability – Fast-Track to the Future: OIF is accelerating electrical interface interoperability with a suite of 224Gbps and 112Gbps CEI multi-vendor demonstrations spanning a variety of applications that form the foundation of next-generation optical connectivity. The CEI-224G demonstrations include a diversity of link types from Very Short Reach (VSR) to Long Reach (LR) and linear interfaces leveraging specifications spearheaded by the OIF. The CEI-112G demonstration displays the breadth and depth of linear pluggable optics with interoperability from multiple vendors over various link types.

CMIS – Path to Plug & Play: OIF members will demonstrate physical layer management interoperability across diverse network equipment and pluggables enabled by CMIS. The demonstration includes the CMIS industry-standard management interface for a common network control platform, showing interoperability among different plug types, switches/routers and test-measurement equipment, all operating with CMIS.

EEI and Co-Packaging – Revolutionizing Connectivity: OIF members will display a conceptual demo of AI compute and live PCIe optical links, all using next-generation EEI, as well as live demos showcasing the latest advancements for ELSFP, external laser source faceplate pluggable, for co-packaging.

Participating member companies include:
Adtran, Alphawave Semi, Amphenol, Anritsu, AOI, Astera Labs, Cadence Design Systems Inc., CICT/Accelink, Cisco, Coherent Corp., EXFO, HG Genuine, Hisense, Infinera, Innolight, Juniper Networks, Keysight Technologies, Lessengers, Linktel Technologies, Lumentum, MACOM Technology Solutions, Marvell, Molex, MultiLane, Nokia, O-Net Technologies, Samtec, Semtech, Senko Advanced Components, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Synopsys, TE Connectivity, US Conec and Wilder Technologies.

OIF Experts to Share Insights in Market Focus Sessions

In addition to the live interoperability demonstrations, OIF experts will contribute their knowledge in three Market Focus Sessions, offering insights into key industry trends and technological advancements:

  • “Coherent Optics in the Datacenter”

Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, from 1:20 pm-1:35 pm CEST

Presenter: Karl Gass, OIF Physical and Link Layer (PLL) Working Group (WG) Optical Vice Chair

  • “CMIS – Is Plug-and-Play Possible?”

Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, from 2:20 pm-2:35 pm CEST

Presenter: Doug Cattarusa, OIF Editor, Cisco

  • “Energy Efficient Interfaces for the Next Generation of AI Compute”

Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, from 11:20 am-11:35 am CEST

Presenter: Jeff Hutchins, OIF Board Member and PLL WG EEI Vice Chair, Ranovus

For further details, please visit: https://www.oiforum.com/meetings-events/oif-ecoc-2024/

 

About OIF

OIF is where the optical networking industry’s interoperability work gets done. With more than 25 years of effecting forward change in the industry, OIF represents the dynamic ecosystem of 150+ industry leading network operators, system vendors, component vendors and test equipment vendors collaborating to develop interoperable electrical, optical and control solutions that directly impact the industry’s ecosystem and facilitate global connectivity in the open network world. Connect with OIF on LinkedIn, on X at @OIForum and at https://www.oiforum.com/.

 

PR Contact:
Leah Wilkinson
Wilkinson + Associates for OIF
leah@wilkinson.associates
703-907-0010

 

OIF Q4 Technical and MA&E Committees Meeting Results in Working Group Chair Re-Elections, White Paper, and 400ZR Demo Survey Availability

Guest speaker from Hawaiian Telcom shared an overview of its network investment, and its continued efforts to push the network edge closer to the customer

Fremont, Calif.—November 22, 2022 – OIF’s Q4 Technical and MA&E Committees Meeting, held in person and virtually November 1-3, 2022, in Kona, Hawaii, included guest speaker Francis Alueta, Hawaiian Telcom and resulted in the release of a new white paper, a 400ZR survey, and re-elections of two new Working Group chairs.

White Paper – Management of External Light Sources and Co-packaged Optical Engines

Properly managing optical engines and external light sources requires an efficient system management architecture. A newly launched white paper from OIF outlines the recommended system management architecture that enables co-packaged optical transceivers to use lasers as external light sources. It also describes how OIF’s Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) can manage transceivers and light sources. The key feature is placing the intelligence for controlling the continuous wave light sources in the host board controller, not in the optical engines.

Working Group Chairs Re-Election

Also, during the meeting, OIF members re-elected Working Group Chairs (for two-year terms):

  • Mike Klempa, Alphawave IP Group – Physical & Link Layer (PLL) Interoperability Working Group Chair
  • Jeffery Maki, Juniper Networks – Physical Layer User Group Working Group Chair

 

Guest Speaker – Francis Alueta, Hawaiian Telcom

As Director, Network Reliability, Alueta, presented a high-level overview of Hawaiian Telcom’s investment in its next-generation network, the landmark Southeast Asia (SEA) US Trans-Pacific Cable System and backbone transport network. Next generation network plans include pushing a low-latency network edge closer to the customer and deploying a resilient, 400G backbone network. He also outlined some of the unique challenges they face as an island chain, geographic limits to route and path diversity options and climate change.

“Big Mahalo for OIF allowing me to present an overview of the architectural and operational challenges we have to overcome, as we transform our network,” said Alueta. “The work OIF continues to do will allow us to address those challenges and ensure a resilient network for our customers and the people of Hawaii.”

 

400ZR Demonstrations and Plugfests Survey – Deadline December 7

OIF is launching a survey designed to gather feedback from network operators and stakeholders on OIF’s 400ZR demonstrations and plugfests. The survey also includes collecting input on the interest of an 800ZR and/or 800LR OIF demo and reaches of interest for 800G (800LR, 800ZR, > 800ZR).

The survey is available and open to all who can represent their company’s viewpoint – module vendors, system vendors and network operators. Multiple responses per company are also allowed. Responses will be collated anonymously and summarized for presentation to the public. Interested parties, please email survey@oiforum.com. The deadline for completing the survey is December 7.

“OIF members guide its demos and plugfests, and this survey supports new directions encouraged by our Interoperability Working Group Chair,” said Karl Gass, OIF PLL Working Group – Optical Vice Chair. “Leveraging the pre-demonstration plugfest as an opportunity to collect quantitative measurements of interoperability with multiple vendors provides critical input for current and future (800ZR) Implementation Agreements.”

 

About OIF

OIF is where the optical networking industry’s interoperability work gets done. Building on nearly 25 years of effecting forward change in the industry, OIF represents the dynamic ecosystem of 130+ industry leading network operators, system vendors, component vendors and test equipment vendors collaborating to develop interoperable electrical, optical and control solutions that directly impact the industry’s ecosystem and facilitate global connectivity in the open network world. Connect with OIF at @OIForum, on LinkedIn and at http://www.oiforum.com.

 

PR Contact:

Leah Wilkinson

Wilkinson + Associates for OIF

703-907-0010

leah@wilkinson.associates