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Organizations of all sizes are turning to optical technology to solve the need for greater speed, longer distances, and more interconnections for their networks. Telco, Internet Content Providers, Cable, and Data Center operators are all chasing the rapid innovation in optical technology to build their networks and to ensure they have the bandwidth to meet the ever-increasing demand.

To address these market challenges, standards organizations are creating specifications to ensure interoperability. These groups are typically composed of technical employees from equipment vendors, telecommunication network owners, government regulators, and researchers. Standards bodies strive to create unique specifications that may incorporate the work of other standards organizations in order to create solutions with the widest possible market and avoid duplicate efforts, in this column we will highlight the key groups focused on optical devices and interfaces which are crucial for any vendor to work with as they define their optical strategies.

Multi-Source Agreement (MSA)
This is a type of standard developed by vendors outside a formal standards organization. There are many successful MSAs used throughout data networks and MSAs are being developed for coherent optical transceivers at 100G and greater data rates. Multi-source Agreements are typically developed for the following reasons:

1) They might bring a technology to market faster than a standards group.

2) There is not a standards organization working on the specific technology in question.

Vendors elect to contribute intellectual property to MSAs to help standardize and market a particular technology.

Major standards organizations in the optical space include:

Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
All of the physical and signaling standards for Ethernet are defined within the IEEE. The IEEE and its members inspire a global community to innovate for a better tomorrow. The IEEE is the trusted “voice” for computing, and technology information around the globe and it defines the Ethernet components and protocols that represent a major portion of the optical connectivity market.

Internal Telecommunications Union and American National Standards Institute (ITU-T / ANSI)
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET) were developed by the ITU-T and ANSI. The ITU-T is the main group driving ongoing work to develop standards for optical transmission used predominantly in the Telco market. Their work is also used in long-distance transmission in the Telco and Independent Communications Provider (ICP) markets.

Optical Interworking Forum (OIF)
This organization is responsible for developing optical Advanced Programming Interfaces (API) that enable the interoperability of optical components and software across multiple network layers. The Implementation Agreement for 400ZR coherent optical interfaces, published in April 2020, is an industry first for interoperability of coherent optics. Since then they have developed a series of Implementation Agreements for coherent optics

CableLabs
The Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) standards were developed by CableLabs, which is a consortia of cable companies that seek to create standards for the cable industry. They work on evolving and expanding optical specifications to bring greater optical capability and manageability to HFC networks. Their P2P(Peer-2-peer) coherent optical specification defines coherent 100G and 200G optical interfaces for use with DWDM in the access portion of HFC networks. In addition, CableLabs is defining a bidirectional, coherent single wavelength optic for use in fiber constrained environments. In their specifications, CableLabs sites several existing standards developed by both the ITU and the IEEE to ensure interoperability with other components, systems, and networks. Interoperability testing is coordinated by CableLabs and is open to any company that wants to test the physical layer (transceivers) to ensure alignment with their standards and interoperability with other vendors.

Groups Focused on Network Management
All standards groups may define some degree of management for their specific technology, but none undertake the definition of managing all the optical technologies required to create a fully operational network. Therefore, optical management standards and specifications are developed by several groups. The MEF although originally focused on creating the standards for Ethernet services, has recently been creating specifications and Implementation Agreements to define service orchestration for data networking. A small portion of their work focuses on managing optical interfaces. In addition, there are open source tools like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef that can be used to enable some degree of optical interface management.

Conclusion
Developments are occurring rapidly in the areas of packaging, electrical, optical, and management of grey and DWDM coherent pluggable optical interfaces that support 100G and higher data rates. The pace of change and options available from vendors makes it difficult for end-users to know the best solutions for building optical links. At ProLabs this is our specialty. We bring you the insight to have confidence and peace of mind when making these decisions. We follow the standards in development, and we work with our suppliers on emerging technologies. Our worldwide experience with optical networks gives us the vision to understand all the trade-offs for each technology option. And then in consultation with our customers, we analyze their needs and create unique standards-based solutions that support their network requirements.

Simply follow the links below to see our full series of coherent articles:

• Coherent Optics: The Beginning of a Universal Approach
• Optic Impairments and Coherent Optics: Explained
• All You Need To Know About Coherent Detection Transceivers
• Key Transceiver Form Factors and Migration to Coherent Transmission

Contact us to find out more.

Introduction to 25G Ethernet

25G Ethernet is passing 40G Ethernet as the go-to solution for faster, more efficient networks. The 25G standard was the first to be introduced at inception with the smallest form factor pluggable module, the SFP / SFP+. They never needed to be reduced in size as technology advanced, and are backwards compatible with SFP switch ports.

The single lane 25G architecture enabled re-use of the proven 1G and 10G SFP form factor pluggable modules for either copper or fiber links. The optical module for 25G Ethernet is referred to as SFP28 because it has one lane that runs at 28Gbps. The QSFP28 (Q stands for quad) and supports 100G of throughput. It has 4 lanes of 25G each that can be used for a 100G connection between a single server port and a single switch port. The design of 40G Ethernet is not space, power or cost-effective for wide scale data center deployment when compared to 25G designs.

Applications
Today, the drivers of 25G Ethernet are data center interconnect for servers, storage and switches as well as 5G front and midhaul applications. The SFP28 optical module is the foundation for 25G and comes in standard unidirectional design, for separate transmit signal (Tx) fiber and corresponding receiver (Rx) strands as well as BiDi designs where a single strand carries both the TX and RX signal. This makes 25G available for Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint networks where fiber may be constrained. They can be used as gray optics or within PON or optical Ethernet networks using DWDM or CWDM. There are also 25G optical modules that support the extended temperature ranges needed for industrial applications.

Advantages

Networks designed with 25G Ethernet optics are more efficient for greenfield networks or for upgrading existing networks, advantages include:

• Lower power consumption than connectivity using 40G
• Higher switch face plate density
• Greater throughput
• Lower cost per bit transmitted
• Efficient migration to 100G server connections
• Reuse of existing server to switch cabling

Cable Infrastructure

An important part of the 25G compatibility story includes the cables that connect the optics. Reuse of existing data center cable infrastructure saves CapEx and enables straightforward upgrade from 10G and 40G connections. Cables for 25G have been specified by the IEEE and multi-source agreements for top-of-rack and end-of-row applications. The most commonly deployed are the twinax copper direct attach cable with a reach of 5 meters and the active optical cable that reaches 100 meters.

25G Benefits
The ecosystem for 25G includes optical modules, cables, switch ports and NICs. Careful definition by standards bodies means 25G is lower-power and backwards compatible with existing data center infrastructure while seamlessly matching 100G and higher architectures. There are currently 25G optical modules for most existing and upcoming applications and network architectures. ProLabs specializes in 25G solutions for customers building new networks or upgrading existing installations.

ProLabs new 25G transceivers build bridges for 5G at any distance.

Contact us to find out more.

India’s telecommunications industry is showing huge growth, it is currently the second-largest market with over 1.17 billion subscribers. Many developments in recent years such as cloud services, IoT, gaming, and video are creating new challenges and openings for network providers.

According to TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) over 98% of all subscribers, 1.15 billion have opted for wireless services. When looking at mobile broadband, users are now depending more on mobile devices every day with huge usage for apps like:

• Hotstar
• WhatsApp
• Instagram
• Amazon Prime
• Netflix
• SonyLiv

Due to the record levels of data consumption and the impending move to 5G service providers are increasingly under pressure to deliver reliable and scalable networks.

With more users working from home the embracing of broadband will increase with schools moving online and more workers based from home. Connectivity for an enterprise may be impacted as working from home becomes standard and companies look to define plans for transferring work to the cloud for home workers.

Network operators need to improve their networks to meet these swiftly changing demands. They are making investments in advanced software and packet-optical networks to become more adaptable and nimbler. Operators are viewing performance data to constantly enhance their networks and provide a higher level of experience to consumers.

To be successful 5G demands plenty of fiber to meet performance goals linked to network availability, coverage, and range. To support 5G some telecom service providers such as Airtel are building one of the world’s largest optical networks in India.

ProLabs’ global presence, including India, is meeting the growing 5G demand for optics with SFP, SFP+, and QSFP transceivers used in wireless infrastructure. Working with open standards such as O-RAN, Open RAN, CPRI, and eCPRI for front haul and mid haul connections we enable flexible scaling for all network operators. ProLabs is one of the world’s largest single-source providers for compatible optics for all your network needs ranging from power-efficient and long reach optical products to network validation solutions.

Neeraj Chowdhary, ProLabs Country Head, India

Simply contact us to find out more.

IRVINE, Calif., May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ProLabs, a global leader in optical networking and connectivity solutions, has launched its new industrial temperature (ITEMP) QSFP28 100G transceivers, optimizing 100G signals across temperature-sensitive network links from -40C to +85C.

Networks containing high performance transceivers under constant load or subject to climate are impacted when temperatures break beyond ideal operating ranges. 5G wireless backhaul and midhaul networks spanning large distances, as well as optics in FTTx and high frequency trading networks, are especially prone to temperature related signal degradation, alarms, and loss of service.

By employing the wider temperature tolerance provided by these rugged QSFP28 transceivers, network operators can protect their 100G networks against any adverse effects caused by weather, climate, or heavy usage.

"Stabilizing signals across all network elements is essential in achieving usable next-generation data rates at and beyond 100G," said Patrick Beard, Chief Technology Officer at ProLabs. "QSFP28 100G ITEMP transceivers deliver network reliability and consistency exactly where it is needed most—to key 5G wireless midhaul, backhaul, high frequency, and access network links."

ProLabs' cost-effective QSFP28 100G ITEMP transceiver solutions are interoperable in environments with switches and routers from Cisco, Arista, Fujitsu, Alcatel-Lucent Nokia, and Ciena.

For more information on ProLabs' QSFP28 100G industrial temperature transceiver solutions, visit: https://www.prolabs.com/solutions/qsfp28-itemp-transceivers-achieve-100g-speed-with-stability-even-at-extreme-temperatures

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 centers 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.

TUSTIN, California and CIRENCESTER, England, Oct. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ProLabs, a global leader in optical connectivity solutions, announced today winning of the 2020 Broadband Technology Report (BTR) Diamond Technology Review award for its Optical Monitoring Platform (OMP). Highly reputable in the cable and telecom industry, the award is based on criteria including the product or services' utility and level of technological innovation. ProLabs' OMP was evaluated by an independent panel of judges composed of cable industry veterans and other experts.

ProLabs' OMP solutions allow network operators to proactively monitor DWDM line systems in their access network, whether utilized for distributed access architectures (DAA) or dedicated fiber business services. The solution combines two complementary monitoring methods, an optical channel monitor and an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) facility that can be applied to each fiber. The two devices are combined and is shared up to 48-fibers egressing a given facility - providing a cost-effective, multi-layer fiber monitoring solution.

"With its advanced monitoring and automation – the network operator can drastically reduce mean time to repair (MTTR) by pinpointing the failure (hardware or plant) as well as automatically trigger a remote OTDR operation that would normally involve a truck roll to the site," said Jon Eikel, ProLabs Chief Strategy Officer. "The improvement in customer experience, elimination of the initial troubleshooting truck roll, and fault isolation each provide a critical step in driving higher reliability while reducing operating cost."

ProLabs will be demonstrating its OMP technology at SCTE Cable-Tech Expo virtually from October 12-15, 2020. To schedule an appointment, click here.

About ProLabs

ProLabs is a leading provider of optical networking infrastructure solutions. For over two decades, it has delivered optical connectivity solutions that give customers freedom, choice, and seamless interoperability. It serves a wide range of industries and customers from Fortune 500 enterprises and the federal government to the largest service providers in the world.

By championing higher standards for technology, products, and service, ProLabs is changing the mindset of data center and network operators 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

Contact:
Claire Lin
claire.lin@prolabs.com

In this article we will focus on the various form factors and standards for optical transceivers. They are often identified by a) the packaging and b) the optics. This information is typically used in the naming convention of these devices. The first set of characters identifies the packaging type and the second set identifies the data rate. The packaging is important to determine what devices (such as switches, routers, Network Interface Cards, Open Line Systems) can support the transceiver. The optics indicate the data rate and/or the link reach that can be achieved.

There are many types of optical transceivers at data rates of less than 100G. The important form factors for Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) at 100G or above are listed below. QSFP (Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable), QSPF+, and QSFP 28 transceivers are included for historical context and some background to help understand the evolution of DWDM pluggable optics. Only the following pluggable optics support coherent detection:

• CFP2-ACO
• CFP2-DCO
• QSFP56-DD

Transceivers Supporting Direct Detection:

QSFP
This is defined by an MSA (Multi Source Agreement) under the direction of the Small Form Factor Committee. It is the most popular pluggable for DWDM at 100G. All transceivers, including the QSFP group, consist of the plug, a cage for electromagnetic interference resistance, a guiding plug, and a board mounted electrical connector. Quad indicates that it supports 4 bidirectional optical channels. This increases the bandwidth available on the link.

QSFP+
This form factor was developed to support 4 x 10Gb/s data rates. There is no difference in size of the QSFP and the QSFP+. It is gradually replacing the QSFP.

QSFP28
These transceivers support 4 channels with each running at 28G and creating a 100G link. It has the same form factor as the QSFP+ transceivers and is used for InfiniBand EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) 100G and 100G Ethernet ports.

QSFP56
They share the same form factor as other QSFP modules. Each of the 4 channels is capable of 50G data rate and therefore the QSFP56 is used for 200G applications, and for InfiniBand HDR (High Data Rate) 200G and 200G Ethernet ports.

QSPF-DD
DD in the name indicates a double-density QSFP transceiver capable of supporting 200G and 400G Ethernet. It uses 8 lanes at 28G NRZ (none-return to zero) modulation for 200G, or 8 lanes of 50G PAM4 (pulse amplitude modulation) for 400G data rates. It is the smallest 400G module and enables 36 ports of 400G to be in a single Rack Unit (RU). The standard specifies 10Km link distances. QSFP and QSFP-DD may be used in the same ports. QSFP-DD will typically draw more power so the overall power envelope must be considered when using these pluggable optics.

DWDM QSFP28 PAM4

PAM4 uses Pulse Amplitude Modulation for various distances and band rates on DWDM networks. It applies the QSFP28 format for direct detection optics, not coherent optics and is the result of a multi-source agreement. These DWDM transceivers are available at up to 100G data rates. The reach is extendable up to 80km. However, direct-detect technology is sensitive to dispersion related effects and always requires accurate amplification and dispersion compensation equipment to reach distances typically required for data center interconnect and other DWDM optical link applications. The benefit of PAM4 is low power and longer reach.

Transceivers Supporting Coherent Detection:

CFP2- ACO and CFP2-DCO
These are the first coherent pluggable transceivers on this list. The abbreviation stands for Analog Coherent Optic (ACO) and a Digital Coherent Optic (DCO). In the ACO module, the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) is placed on the host line card. The CFP2-ACO module passes an analog signal to the DSP which is located on the host line card. Therefore, the CFP2-ACO may only be used in a system that has the matching DSP on the host line card. In a CFP2-DCO the DSP is located within the optical transceiver itself. Having the DSP within the CFP2-DCO transceiver provides more flexibility because the module can be used with any line card.

The DSP gives coherent pluggable transceivers the ability to adapt the modulation scheme and/or baud rate to the application, distance, or data rate. These functions are under the software control. There are no standards for the software interface to a DSP. Since each DSP vendor creates their own software environment, there is no interoperability between DSPs. This means there is no interoperability between CFP2 transceivers from different vendors. This means the coherent pluggable transceivers from the same vendor must be used on each end of the link.

QSFP56-DD (ZR or ZR+) 400G, or 100 to 400G
The Optical Interworking Forum in conjunction with MSA groups published the Implementation Agreement for ZR in April of 2020. ZR optics will operate optics in DWDM networks at 400G Ethernet over single-span links and feature multi-vendor interoperability. To ensure interoperability the line signaling rate (60Gbaud) and modulation format (16-QAM), among other parameters, are specified. This will be the first coherent optic interoperability for higher order modulation formats. The FEC (Forward Error Correction) and OTN (Optical Transport Node) framing parameters used for ZR will also be standardized for interoperability of these transceivers. Likewise, to ensure interoperability among vendors, the baud rate and modulation format will be specified and fixed, it will not be variable. Transmission distance of < 120km are specified and the optical links should provide OSNR of around 30dB.

ZR+ is in the concept stage at this time and evolving as a solution for next-generation, technology at greater than 200G. Two groups initiating discussions on this topic are the Open ROADM (Reconfigurable Add Drop Multiplexer) MSA for ROADM applications and ITU-T Study Group 15 which are looking at use cases of up to 450km.

Similar to the QSFP transceivers described above, the DD version helps to reduce the size of the device in which they operate while significantly increasing the available bandwidth. This increases the number of transceivers that may be placed into the faceplate of a switch, router or optical platform and provides additional throughput.

CableLabs Distributed Access Architecture (DAA)
DWDM and coherent optics are an important component in the Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) work at CableLabs. The DAA describes an overall Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network design and the specification known as the Peer-to-peer (P2P) Coherent Optics Physical Layer 1.0 Specification, defines coherent optics for DWDM used to bring higher bandwidth to the access portion of HFC networks. It describes the physical layer requirements for 100G optical links for up to 40km with future distances extending to 120km in some environments. There is also work on single strand, single wavelength bidirectional implementation for this coherent optical standard.

The P2P standard incorporates work from the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) Symbol mapping, Modulation, OTU (Optical Transport Unit) framing, DWDM frequency grid and FEC as well as work from the IEEE 802.3 working groups. DWDM coherent pluggable optics designed to CableLabs specifications could be housed in the standard packaging described above to meet the space and power requirements of the vendor.

Conclusion
The demand for greater bandwidth and increased link distances is motivating standards organizations and MSA groups to focus on new approaches to optical link connectivity. Coherent transceivers will be the underlying DWDM technology for high speeds transceivers of 100G and above. ProLabs is already working to provide 3rd party transceivers in the CFP2-DCO form factor.

DWDM ZR transceivers will be the first commercially available, interoperable, coherent optics on the market. Ongoing work for hardware and software standards to support 200G, 400G and 800G interfaces will make low power, small footprint, coherent DWDM pluggable optics at these data rates available for a wide range of network applications. ProLabs is closely following developments with ZR standards, packaging options, electrical design, management interfaces and other areas to bring our customers the widest variety of flexible, cost effective, solutions with a long reach.

Simply follow the links below to see our full series of coherent articles:

• Coherent Optics: The Beginning of a Universal Approach
• Optic Impairments and Coherent Optics: Explained
• All You Need To Know About Coherent Detection Transceivers
• Everything You Need To Know About Industry Standards

Contact us to find out more.

In the coming years, consumers will soon have to rely more on in-store networks for a seamless shopping experience.

Until recently, most retailers relied on copper internet to run operations, but this brought limitations to the networks' core. Successfully meeting the need to add more equipment, workstations, and security technology is only possible with a move to fiber optic technology. By choosing fiber, organizations benefit with improved reliability, speed, and security, all while achieving a lower total cost of ownership over time.

While many first associate speed with fiber optic internet, there are still plenty of other fiber network advantages over copper:

• Reliability - Reduced downtime means fewer headaches for your staff and your shoppers. Fiber optic transceivers and cables keep your network running reliably for around-the-clock access.
• Bandwidth - Increasing bandwidth supports larger quantities of simultaneous users and critical appliances/hardware (point of sale, kiosks, guest Wi-Fi, video security, etc.)
• Security - Any attempts to tap can cause the fibers to break, thus protecting the sensitive data of your business and customers.
• Cost - Daily operating costs in replacements and power consumption is significantly reduced over time with fiber, providing a lower total cost of ownership.

What are the most popular solutions to help maximize retails' network potential?

1. Media Converters – A conversion from electrical/copper/PoE signals to fiber/optical signals with media converters is a key step in building your new fiber network.
2. 1G/10G Transceivers ­­– 1G/10G fiber transceivers build a strong fiber network foundation, and improve network performance through elevated data rates and bandwidth headroom.
3. Multi-mode, Single mode, or Single Strand Fiber – Extend fiber links over greater distances while also future-proofing for 10G and higher data rates.
4. Scalable Fiber Infrastructure – Deploying fiber builds a scalable solution, as transceivers can be swapped out and upgraded without running additional fiber in many cases.

Contact our experts for essential retail network upgrades today.

A number of key South African universities have reported good progress with online learning for their students since the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the country’s lockdown situation. This is encouraging, as it means the wheels of learning are able to continue turning, but it also brings serious issues around data and bandwidth provision.

So says Marcel Fouché, networking and storage general manager at value-added distributor, Networks Unlimited Africa. He explains: “Before the pandemic, growing data consumption meant that the demand for bandwidth had already resulted in a race between consumers’ appetites and providers’ best efforts to supply it. Today, as the world moves ever more swiftly into remote working and learning, the implications for bandwidth are more critical than ever.

“University life, with its emphasis on teaching the young professionals of tomorrow as well as its critical focus on technology and medical research, plays a hugely important role in the quest to make sure that data provision is able to match demand.”

ProLabs, a global leader in optical networking infrastructure, is rising to this challenge for universities, as well as other vertical sectors. The company, whose solutions are distributed in sub-Saharan Africa by Networks Unlimited Africa, notes: “Universities are adjusting to the influx of e-learning and tele-education in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are complex and varying digital infrastructure components that need to function properly to support the day-to-day operations of a university, from enrolment to payment to online coursework to library and databases, research, Web applications for learning, and more[1].”

From a local perspective, the following three universities – to name just a few – have reported a solid online learning response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

The University of Cape Town will move the rest of its academic year online as a result of the pandemic.

The University of Johannesburg says attendance of its online classes during the lockdown has been better than physical attendance for the same period last year.

The University of Pretoria discloses that the vast majority of its lecturers and students managed to move relatively seamlessly into remote teaching and learning[2].

According to ProLabs, universities – as key centers of learning – need to adapt right now to changes in the following scenarios:

• Security: Both students and lecturers are accessing university networks from outside the on-premises network, which exposes potential security gaps.
• Increased reliance on cloud communication and collaboration platforms: Universities need to develop new student engagement platforms to provide robust learning opportunities, including virtual campus visits, new student orientation, and virtual lecture rooms.
• Operational intelligence: With the current need to engage in contact tracing in a bid to prevent and control future outbreaks of the virus, university infrastructures will also need to support operational intelligence models through multiple learning modalities that could include video, mobile device data, and applications.

ProLabs clarifies that some of the universities it has worked with have asked questions such as:

• How to create state-of-the-art networks for their future needs;
• How to save money without sacrificing quality; and
• How to support an environment with multiple platforms and vendors?

“ProLabs is outstandingly competent to provide answers to these and other questions that higher learning institutions may have,” explains Fouché.

“For example, its transceivers range from 1G to 400G, while its other options support an institution’s growth and infrastructure transitions, including the integration of new technology with aging equipment, and also address the challenge of network inter-operability by providing cables that are compatible with multiple platforms and vendors. In short, all the bases are covered to allow universities to concentrate on their core mission of teaching the professionals of tomorrow to the best of their ability, even in today’s currently trying times,” he concludes.

About ProLabs

ProLabs is a leading provider of optical networking infrastructure 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, products, and service, ProLabs is changing the mindset of data center and network operators 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.

Media Contact
Robin Fairchild
Robin.Fairchild@prolabs.com

Data center operators need more storage, computing power, and higher bandwidth to connect more devices. On top of these needs, they have a requirement to reduce the time it takes to get data to and from their customers.

The result of these forces is the development of the edge data center, sometimes referred to as edge computing. To some degree, data center operators have reached the limits of what can be done in large, centralized locations. Therefore, operators are creating new architectures for their data centers and edge data centers are the result. Minimizing latency of data to and from the customer and the core network are key drivers along with the following customer requirements as they:

• Are closer in proximity to the end users.
• Are smaller than traditional data centers.
• Run a more limited set of applications required for the local user community.
• Share operational overhead as a distributed node of larger data center organizations.
• Cache frequently used content.

These new architectures deliver three fundamental requirements among others, faster processing speed, lower latency, and increased bandwidth. These mandates require edge data centers to be built upon optical networks of two types:

1. The local optical network within the data center and the right transceivers, cables and racks for connecting servers to switches and storage.

2. The high-speed optical links, typically Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM), that connect the edge data center to the customer and to other service providers.

The types of transceivers required for these two functions are very different and each is a technical domain within itself. ProLabs has the technical expertise, transceivers, DAC and AOC cables, plus related equipment to supply any need within the data center and for long reach WDM links.

Using optical networks to build the right architecture for servers, switches and storage within the building as well as the high-speed connections to the core network provides the foundation that edge data centers need to deliver the latest applications. Some of these applications include:

• Real time – examples are AR/VR, IoT, connected cars, telemedicine.
• Data collection/analytics/AI – data from thousands of points is collected and analyzed.
• Compliance – copyright enforcement, geofencing, fulfilling local data privacy laws.
• Network function virtualization – moving applications from local appliances to the cloud.

ProLabs specializes in understanding how the optical network delivers value for edge network operators. Whether it is coherent optics for backbone links or 10G to 400G transceivers for within the data center, ProLabs is your one-stop-shop for quality tested gear for cutting edge data center operators.

Simply contact us to find out more.