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Irvine, Calif., US, September 21, 2022 – ProLabs, a global leader in optical networking and connectivity solutions, has launched a new long range 80km DWDM solution by pairing its 100G erbium-doped fiber amplified multiplexer (EDFAMUX) with QSFP28 PAM4 DWDM 2x50G transceivers.

The EDFAMUX is an integrated solution that combines the multiplexer, EDFA, and dispersion compensator in a single 1 rack unit (1RU) 19" container to diminish space requirements and resolve complexity while enhancing flexibility. The 100G EDFAMUX models were designed to work with QSFP28 100G DWDM PAM4 optics, which require amplification to go any distance and dispersion compensation beyond 5km.

“Network operators are looking to reduce engineering and operational complexity as well as shrinking footprint and power consumption through streamlining PAM4 DWDM deployments. By incorporating the EDFA and dispersion compensator inside the multiplexer, coupled with our web-based and command line configuration options, the ProLabs EDFAMUX accomplishes these objectives,” according to Jon Eikel, Chief Technology Officer at ProLabs. “The EDFAMUX simplifies the entire DWDM architecture and deployment while freeing up valuable rack space and power facilities to help service providers continue meeting the market’s explosive bandwidth demand.”

ProLabs’ new 100G EDFAMUX solution with a transceiver portfolio supports 10G & 100G EDFAMUX deployments. The 10G EDFAMUX models are a simple and affordable solution for long-distance applications from 80km to 200km that can be used with standard 10G 80km/ZR fixed color or tunable DWDM optics.

For more information on ProLabs’ 10G & 100G EDFAMUX + QSFP28 PAM4 DWDM transceivers, visit booth #7047 at Cable-Tec Expo or here.

About ProLabs

ProLabs is a leading provider of optical networking solutions. For over two decades, it has delivered optical connectivity solutions that give customers freedom, choice, and seamless interoperability. It serves a diverse range of industries including enterprises, governments, and the largest worldwide service providers.

By championing higher standards for technology and service, ProLabs is changing the mindset of data center and service providers the world over. It supplies solutions that are 100% compatible in form and functionality across 100 OEM manufacturers, covering more than 20,000 systems and platforms. For more information, please visit www.prolabs.com.

Media Contact

Dan Wheeler

dan.wheeler@prolabs.com

Irvine, Calif., US, September 20, 2022 – ProLabs, a global leader in optical networking and connectivity solutions, has announced today that its 100G QSFP28 O-band wavelength division modulation (WDM) 20km (up to 40km back-to-back) industry standard transceivers were recognized among the best in the industry by the 2022 Broadband Technology Report’s Diamond Technology Reviews.

The O-band WDM transceivers were awarded 4/5 Diamonds for aiding network managers scaling performance to 100G on existing infrastructure utilizing wavelength division modulation (WDM) and an 8-channel passive multiplexer. These transceivers are drop-in solutions that can work up to 20km on their own or up to 40km when deployed back-to-back. O-band transceivers are designed for network edge use where density or cost prohibits the use of coherent or open-line systems.

“On behalf of the Broadband Technology Report's 2022 Diamond Technology Reviews, I would like to congratulate ProLabs on their 4 Diamonds honoree status,” said Broadband Technology Report's Chief Editor, Stephen Hardy. “This program recognizes and rewards the top products and solutions available to the broadband cable industry. We appreciate all entries we receive though not all were honored with 3.5 Diamonds or above.”

For more information on ProLabs’ O-band WDM transceiver solutions, visit booth #7047 at Cable-Tec Expo 2022 or the website here.

About ProLabs

ProLabs is a leading provider of optical networking solutions. For over two decades, it has delivered optical connectivity solutions that give customers freedom, choice, and seamless interoperability. It serves a diverse range of industries including enterprises, governments, and the largest worldwide service providers.

By championing higher standards for technology and service, ProLabs is changing the mindset of data center and service providers the world over. It supplies solutions that are 100% compatible in form and functionality across 100 OEM manufacturers, covering more than 20,000 systems and platforms. For more information, please visit www.prolabs.com.

Media Contact

Dan Wheeler

dan.wheeler@prolabs.com

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400G

Coherent

Cloud computing and big data are driving the exponential growth of traffic and the rise of 400G Ethernet. With data center networks experiencing an increase in bandwidth needs, it is required for innovative technologies to meet these shifting demands.

Currently, there two signal modulation techniques that are being explored for next-generation Ethernet: non-return to zero (NRZ) and pulse-amplitude modulation 4-level (PAM4).

NRZ and PAM4 Basics

NRZ is a modulation method that represents the 1/0 information of a digital logic signal utilizing two signal levels. A negative voltage corresponds to logic 0, and a positive value corresponds to logic 1. For NRZ transmissions, the baud rate—the rate at which a symbol can change—equals the bit rate.

Advantages of NRZ:

• Good for short distance runs
• Throughput of 1 bit per Unit Interval (UI)
  
• Signal and Noise (SNR) = 0 dB
• Minimizes current change

PAM4 is a multilevel signal modulation that uses four different signal levels (0, 1, 2, 3). Each signal level can represent 2 bits of logic information.

Advantages of PAM4:

• Used in 400 gigabit Ethernet
• Can pull twice the signal vs. NRZ
• Operates on four levels vs. two levels
• Throughput of 2 bit per Unit Interval (UI)

Comparison of NRZ vs. PAM4

Bit Rate

A transmission using the NRZ method will have the same baud rate and bit rate because each symbol can contain one bit. For example, a bit rate of 28Gbps (gigabits per second) is similar to a baud rate of 28GBdps (gigabauds per second). While 56Gbps PAM4 will have a line transmission at 28GBdps since PAM4 transmits 2 bits per symbol.

Therefore, PAM4 increases efficiency for high-speed optical transmission like 400G by doubling the bit rate for a given baud rate over NRZ. By utilizing PAM4 modulation, a 400 Gbps Ethernet interface can be implemented using eight lanes at 50 Gbps or four lanes at 100 Gbps.

Signal Loss

Compared to NRZ, PAM4 enables the transmission of twice as much data per symbol cycle. Therefore, the signal loss brought on by the transmission channel in PAM4 signaling is significantly decreased because PAM4 only has half the baud rate – also known as symbol rate – of the NRZ signal. Due to this crucial benefit of PAM4, it is possible to use existing channels and interconnects at larger data rates without having to double the baud rate or increase channel loss.

Signal-to-noise Ratio (SNR) and Bit Error Rate (BER)

The eye height for PAM4 is 1/3 that of NRZ, as shown in the graph below, which results in a rise in SNR (Signal-Noise Ratio) of -9.54 dB, which has an effect on signal quality and adds new restrictions on high-speed signaling. PAM4 signaling is more susceptible to noise due to the 33 percent smaller vertical eye opening, which raises the bit error rate (BER). However, forward-error correction (FEC), which can assist link systems in achieving the necessary BER, is what made PAM4 possible.

Power Consumption

In order to reduce BER in a PAM4 channel, equalization at the Rx end and pre-compensation at the Tx end are required, both of which use more power than the NRZ link. As a result, PAM4 transceivers at both ends of the link produce additional heat. But the most recent cutting-edge silicon photonics (SiPh) technology can significantly cut energy consumption and be applied to 400G transceivers.

Shift from NRZ to PAM4 for 400G Ethernet

With the tremendous amount of data being transported around the world, many corporations have expressed their desire to migrate to 400G. However, the demands of 400G Ethernet cannot be met due to link loss and scheme size. As a result, in 400G modules, PAM4 will replace NRZ as the dominant modulation technique for electrical/optical signal transmission and become the main rate of next-generation Ethernet.

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