www.opticalconnectionsnews.com Follow @opconsnews Issue 2 | Q1 2014

Operators open their eyes FTTH network monitoring - p8

Fibre fuels – p10

Sweden puts the ‘fibre’ in innovation – p12

2014, the year of emerging market technology – p14

Optical networks become of age – p16

Ever growing speed – p18

Enabling pluggable coherent optics – p20

Optical Connections: Bringing the World the Latest in Optical Communications News

CONTENTS

In this issue Foreword

Industry news 4 Welcome to the second edition of Optical Connections magazine.

Operators open their eyes Inside this issue Pauline Rigby looks at FTTH network testing, - Pauline Rigby 8 Kendrick Struthers Watson discusses the continued rise of optical networks and how fibre has helped to advance digital Fibre fuels - Kendrick Struthers Watson 10 communications speeds. Benoît Felten, Chief Research Officer at Diffraction Analysis, provides a review of the Sweden puts the ‘fibre’ in innovation broadband market in 2013 and a preview to 2014, Karin Ahl, - Karin Ahl 12 President of the FTTH Council Europe, offers an insight into Swedish fibre innovation and Nikolay Ledentsov, CEO of VI- 2014, the year of emerging market technology 14 Systems GmbH, asks whether fresh technologies are needed - Benoît Felten to address increasing electrical and optical interface speeds.

Optical networks become of age In our technical feature, Mark Ives, Director Product Line - Kendrick Struthers Watson 16 Management at Oclaro, highlights how indium phosphide based photonic components are enabling pluggable coherent Ever growing speed optics. - Nikolay Ledentsov 18

We also highlight major technology and business Enabling pluggable coherent optics - Mark Ives 20 developments for the first quarter of the year and provide a ‘must see’ list of exhibitors for the next two key industry events February Event Focus - FTTH Conference 22 – the FTTH Conference in February and OFC in March.

Our thanks to all the contributing authors and supporting March Event Focus -OFC 24 advertisers who have helped produce this issue, and to the 10,500 industry professionals who have registered to receive Optical Connections news. For the latest industry

Optical Connections is published by developments, please visit www.opticalconnectionsnews.com

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Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | 3 INDUSTRY NEWS

Alcatel-Lucent and BT announce fastest real-World fibre speeds

lcatel-Lucent and BT have between transmission channels. and Dr Tim Whitley, BT’s MD announced trial speeds By increasing the density of of Research and Innovation, Aof up to 1.4Tb/s with a channels on the fibre, the said ‘BT has a long history record spectral efficiency of 5.7 approach achieved up to 42.5% of leading innovation in bits per second per Hertz (b/s/ greater transmission efficiency telecommunications, from the Hz) on an existing core fibre compared to today’s standard earliest days of the electric connection and believe this to be networks and demonstrated that, telegraph to today’s global fibre the fastest speed ever achieved by using the Flexgrid approach, networks. These trials continue in commercial grade hardware in BT’s network capacity using that tradition, as we work with a real-world environment. existing optical fibres would Alcatel-Lucent to push the The field trial, which was increase, potentially reducing boundaries of fibre technology, conducted over an existing fibre the expense of laying additional allowing us to support the ever link between BT’s Adastral Park fibre to meet growing bandwidth increasing bandwidth required research campus in Suffolk and demand. by our customers, and deliver the BT Tower in London used, a The trial speeds are equivalent new and exciting services Trial was conducted between BT’s research new ‘flexible grid’ infrastructure to transmitting 44 uncompressed which rely on fast, data-hungry park in Suffolk and the BT Tower in London (Flexgrid) to vary the gaps HD films in a single second applications.’ Photonic integration centre G.fast standard opens in Ireland expected in April 2014 €30 million centre for onto silicon. ‘Think of printing he International of 250m of telephone cable, photonic integration has as pick-and-place in a Telecommunication Union however which will require A been set up in Ireland. massively parallel fashion,’ T(ITU) says G.fast, the operators to drive optical The centre brings together said Kyle Benkendorfer, CEO new standard that will enable fibre even deeper into their 100 researchers and is being of X-Celeprint. ‘Instead of ink, access network speeds of up to access networks. G.fast led by the Tyndall National we are picking up and printing 1Gbps over copper telephone technology could be deployed Institute working with University arrays of high-performance cable, is on track for approval from aggregation points College Cork, Cork Institute semiconductors.’ by April 2014. in the streets such as a of Technology and Dublin City The start-up is looking to The physical-layer protocol manhole, cabinet or pole, in an University. work with silicon photonics aspects of G.fast defined by architecture known as fibre-to- The new Science Foundation companies interested in Recommendation ITU-T G.9701 the-distribution point (FTTdp). Ireland Research Centre will licensing its printing technology. ‘Fast Access to Subscriber With stability in the standards, focus on developing photonic The technique brings cost Terminals – Physical layer vendors will now be able to technologies covering telecom savings by avoiding wasting specification’ have reached finalise their G.fast product and datacom as well as medical expensive compound the point of stability required to offerings. Immediately following devices. The centre will also semiconductor material, says initiate the standard’s approval the ITU’s announcement, Israeli work with 18 industry partners Benkendorfer. procedure, the organisation start-up Sckipio came out of including multinationals, Irish X-Celeprint hopes to create 20 says. stealth mode to announce that small-to-medium enterprises jobs in the next two years, while G.fast ‘combines the best it had received $10 million in and start-ups. One start- the centre has set a goal of aspects of fibre and ADSL2’, funding to develop chips for up, X-Celeprint, will base its creating 200 jobs over the next and is seen by many as the G.fast modems. headquarters in Tyndall. six years. most realistic option for mass Deployment of G.fast is X-Celeprint has a technology Professor Mark Ferguson, market deployment of 1Gbps to thought to be a number of suited to heterogenous Director General of SFI and consumers. years out, although operators integration, for example bonding Chief Scientific Adviser to the This approach avoids the have clearly been keeping an III-V material onto silicon wafers. Irish Government said ‘The need to install optical fibre eye on the technology. Last The technique can be used launch of this new centre is behind the front door of the year, Huawei Technologies to fabricate silicon photonics an important development as customer’s property, which delivered a pre-standard devices, creating such optical both of the major sectors it will promises to save the operator version of G.fast to Swisscom, functions as a laser, modulator support are showing significant the time and expense of and also plans to test its kit with or detector alongside silicon growth in Ireland. This is an accessing individual premises. UK operator BT. Alcatel-Lucent functions using etching and excellent example of the kind of The customer will be able to also performed field trials of photo-lithography. collaboration between industry self-install the equipment, as G.fast vectoring technology X-Celeprint has a micro and academia that we will they do today with DSL. with A1, the Austrian subsidiary transfer printing approach continue to encourage: excellent Higher speeds will only be of Telecom Austria Group. that places thin ‘chiplets’ science with impact.’ available over a maximum

4 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | Industry News

Avago diversifies with $6.6B LSI acquisition NEWS IN BRIEF Alcatel-Lucent land he deals are getting bigger. The two vendors have very cash from the company balance In December, optical little product overlap, but can sheet, $4.6 billion of fully EASSy Subsea cable Tcomponents developer pool resources to innovate more committed term loans, and a $1.0 contract Avago Technologies agreed to quickly, she says. For instance, billion investment from Silver Lake Alcatel-Lucent has been buy semiconductor and software Avago’s expertise in high-speed Partners. awarded the contract to company LSI in a cash deal worth connectivity, specifically SerDes, This will be the second time upgrade the 10,000km EASSy $6.6 billion. will be help to differentiate LSI’s Silver Lake has invested in Avago. subsea cable system, running The acquisition creates a custom and standard networking In 2005, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts from South Africa to Sudan. ‘highly diversified semiconductor silicon as speeds increase; while & Co (KKR) and Silver Lake The Franco-American network market leader with approximately LSI’s systems and software bought Agilent’s Semiconductor vendor said the deployment of $5 billion in annual revenues capabilities could be used to Products Group for $2.6 billion, 100G technology will enable the system to capacity in by adding enterprise storage extend Avago’s custom chip and used it to set up Avago excess of 10 Tbit/s. to Avago’s existing wired offerings. Technologies, which they took Chris Wood, Chairman of infrastructure, wireless and Nevertheless, Liu described public in 2009. Interestingly, at the EASSy Management industrial businesses’ the the deal between two companies the time the private equity firms Committee, said ‘This upgrade company said in a statement. with multi-billion dollar revenues decided not to keep Avago’s will add an additional 400Gbps as a ‘bold move’. ‘It moves the storage semiconductor business, The combined company intends and enables us to take a to capitalize on the growing company [Avago] further from the which was instead sold to PMC- further step in offering our opportunities created by the rapid cluster of smaller (US$1 billion Sierra for $425 million. customers the ultra-broadband increases in data centre and revenue or below) communication LSI’s stockholders will receive capacity needed for innovative mobile data traffic. semiconductor vendors such $11.15 in cash for each share services and applications.’ ‘The semiconductor market as Applied Micro, PMC-Sierra, of LSI common stock they hold is changing quickly with the Cavium and into a cluster with at closing, representing a 41% BT set for further UK onslaught of the cloud model’ Broadcom (US$8 billion annual premium over the company’s said Karen Liu, principal analyst, revenue) and Freescale (US$4 share price on 13 December broadband investment components, for Ovum, who billion)’ she wrote in a research when the deal was announced. BT has announced an additional investment of £50 believes that the amalgamation note. The deal is expected to close in million into its commercial will help the two companies be The acquisition will be funded the first half of 2014, subject to fibre broadband programme more responsive to change. by a combination of $1.0 billion customary closing conditions. over the next three years. The money will provide high speed broadband to an additional 400,000 premises, across 30 Huawei Marine Azores islands cities. Mike Galvin, managing director for network investment at Networks connects Openreach, said: ‘Our fibre programme is going extremely well with our engineers connecting homes and Azores islands to businesses across the UK. Some city areas have proved challenging in the past but we the World are returning to those and will pass hundreds of thousands of partnership between essential links to additional premises with fibre. submarine cable networks international cable systems, ‘We are reaching vast swathes A provider, Huawei Marine enabling a broad range of of rural Britain with our public Networks and Portuguese services to be delivered to this sector partners but we will telecommunications region. upgrade these city areas under engineering network supplier, Prior to completion, the seven second (Gbps), the cable has our own steam. Businesses in Viatel, has successfully islands of the Archipelago of the capacity to be upgraded to cities already have access to completed the 685 kilometer the Azores were connected via 100 Gbps in the future. ultra-fast speeds but fibre will cable Flores-Corvo Submarine the Azores Domestic Cable The build was completed give them greater choice.’ Cable System construction. System - excluding Corvo and inside 10 months and Viatel The new cable system, Flores which depended on CTO, Mr. José Luis Nogueira, Network equipment sales which uses enhanced Raman basic satellite communications. commented, ‘The successful on the rise, again technology and advanced All nine islands are now delivery of the Flores-Corvo A study from the Gartner Submarine Line Terminal interconnected, with backbone Submarine Cable System has Group forecasts Global sales Equipment of OptiX BWS connectivity to European, demonstrated Huawei Marine’s of network equipment to 1600S, is set to become an African and cross-Atlantic commitment as a partner. It has rise by 6% over 2014, with integral part of Viatel’s network submarine cables. been a challenging project with service providers needing to and features three diverse Designed with a 0.96 Terabit complex needs, but Huawei build high speed 4G mobile segments, consisting of six per second capacity to provide Marine demonstrated great broadband networks. landings points providing speeds of 10 Gigabit per flexibility and dedication.’

| Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | 5 Industry News

Broadband better than trains and planes, says UK poll NEWS IN BRIEF he general public would to encourage economic growth. it would cost around £28 billion ZTE back in the black rather have superfast ‘The public have told us that to roll out a national fibre-to-the- After reporting a 2.4% year- supporting the e-economy by home network across the UK. T broadband than better on-year decline in revenue in airports or railways, according rolling out universal superfast The UK government declined 2012, the Chinese equipment to the results of a poll broadband will have more to fund such a project, instead manufacturer has returned commissioned by the Institute economic benefits for the UK than allocating £530 million to to profit, announcing a of Engineering and Technology more traditional infrastructure stimulate commercial investment full-year net profit between (IET). projects like increasing airport in broadband in hard-to-reach RMB 1.2 billion (€145 million) Out of 2,011 adults surveyed capacity or high speed rail’ said areas – which in practice has and RMB 1.5 billion (€180 in December 2013, 17 percent Professor Will Steward, Chair of meant more fibre-to-the-cabinet million). ‘ZTE has rigorously thought that building new airports the Communications Policy Panel (FTTC) and VDSL. implemented changes in would benefit the UK economy at the IET. Public perception of the strategy, operations and while only 12 percent said that These figures are interesting projects’ value for money corporate organization in the building extra runways at existing in the context of the ongoing doesn’t seem to be too far from past two years, making it a airports would be beneficial. Just controversy around the UK the government’s own data. priority to improve operational 16 percent thought that building government’s plan to build HS2 An expert report published in efficiency and returns on a high-speed rail line would boost – a high-speed railway line that November 2013 said that for investment, alongside the economy. would shave 20 minutes from the every £1 the government is business growth’ the One of the more popular journey time between London investing in superfast broadband, company said in a statement. options was to build new nuclear and Birmingham. The projected the UK economy will benefit by power stations – 32 percent cost of HS2 is commonly quoted £20 over the period 2009 – 2024. MultiPhy developing thought this would benefit the UK as £42 billion, with a further £7 In contrast, the expected cost- 400G ICs economy. billion required for high-speed to-benefit ratio for HS2 is only MultiPhy, the fabless However, this compares to 43 trains, bringing the total up to £2.30 for every £1 spent, and that semiconductor developer percent who thought extending nearly £50 billion. figure has been reduced as the MultiPhy is working on superfast broadband to all UK For comparison, Analysys construction costs of the project a next-generation chip households would be a good way Mason had previously estimated increase. design to support a direct- detection version of 400G optical transmission. The start-up received funding in 2013 from a ‘strategic Corning Centrix™ investor’ and is already selling 100G multiplexer and receiver chips. The Platform devices are being used for up to 80km point-to-point ny fibre management links and DWDM metro/ system (FMS) worth its regional networks spanning A weight in gold will follow hundreds of kilometers. ‘In three simple rules of proper fibre every engagement we have, management. First, it needs to the solutions are being sold be fully accessible, enabling more cable in both data centre and telecom environments’ said the end-user to access the routing CEO, Avi Shabtai, CEO. connectors in a safe way, without space compared to competitive disturbing neighbouring fibres. solutions. It can be deployed in the heart of the platform is a Secondly, it should ensure that multiple applications including single, modular cassette that Prysmian Group receive fibre cables maintain proper bend Central Office, Headend, FTTx can be tailored to include a €100 R&D funding radius when they enter and exit and datacentres allowing variety of optical devices (splitter, Cable maker Prysmian Group the fibre management enclosure. customers to use one platform WDM), providing flexibility and has received a €100 million Thirdly, the FMS should have a across multiple optical network functionality within a single frame research and development compact design, small enough applications. It also supports without sacrificing density. Each loan from the European to maximise the use of valuable up to 4,320 LC or 2,880 SC cassette contains up to either 24 Investment Bank (EIB). The rack or wall space, but not too connector ports per standard SC or 36 LC connector adaptors, majority of the investment small where accessibility and 7-ft frame/2200mm, and offers and a 4U housing holds 12 revenue will head to the proper bend radius are sacrificed. on-frame splicing without loss cassettes. Easy port access is company’s main research Additionally, an excellent FMS of connector count density possible due to a sliding cassette facility in Italy, with R&D centres will also have the ability to be or special splice housing with drop-down handle. in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK deployed in multiple applications interconnections. The Centrix platform is available also benefitting. The company and provide optimised routing The frame design provides with both rear or front cable have highlighted optical cables paths for jumpers. optimised routing paths for access. Front cable access for power distribution networks The Centrix™ platform is a jumpers, reducing the risk of allows back-to-back frame and cables for fibre-to-the- high-density FMS that provides pileup or entanglement. A single configurations or mounting home and fibre-to-the-antenna a balance of industry-leading jumper length for an in-frame, against a wall. Both frame applications as focus areas. density with up to 20% more cross connect network design configurations save space jumper routing space and 50% reduces jumper inventory. At through increased port density.

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MOL-14030_EMIAdapter-Ad-ECOC-FINAL.indd 1 1/29/14 11:40 AM Operators open their eyes Operators open their eyes to FTTH network monitoring Kunstler, principal analyst, Finally, the performance of the development company UTEL components, Ovum. ‘To facilitate embedded devices should be says neither approach provides this, PON equipment vendors similar to the standalone version, adequate visibility into the and service providers are but at much lower cost. network beyond the splitter, and working on solutions that embed Two companies stepped up proposes something different. OTDR [optical time-domain initially, one transceiver vendor UTEL recently unveiled a network reflectometer] diagnostics and and one systems vendor. management system for its reporting data into both central Optical subsystems vendor Fast Light probe, which is a office and customer premises NeoPhotonics unveiled its central-office-based remote test equipment.’ GPON OLT transceiver with system using an out-of-band An OTDR detects embedded OTDR functionality wavelength. The company backscattered light in optical in an SFP form factor, which it claims that Fast Light can reliably fibres and uses this information said had been developed ‘in detect reflections from individual to compute the location of faults. close collaboration with systems ONTs through 128-split PONs Existing test tools can readily vendor companies’, although it without the need for expensive distinguish between a failure declined to say which ones. wavelength-dependent reflectors By Pauline Rigby on the feeder network, which A few weeks previously, in the ONTs to boost the reflected comes before the splitter, and Alcatel-Lucent said that it had put signal. s part of its national the drop part of the network, embedded OTDR capabilities into UTEL has also set up a joint broadband strategy, the which lies between the splitter its ISAM Access Manager node venture to sell its Fast Light AWorld’s largest country and the customer, but they using an SFP optical transceiver technology in China. ‘We are wants to provide universal have trouble seeing what’s from an unspecified supplier. The very confident that this will be access to broadband by going on beyond the splitters OTDR operates ‘in band’ using very successful as all three of the 2020. Closely aligned with because of multiple reflections a tiny ripple on top of the data big Chinese service providers that strategy, the ‘Broadband from the different drop fibres signal, which avoids the need have indicated that they are in China – Fibre Cities’ plan beyond the splitter and the for additional hardware in the need of such a solution,’ said launched at the beginning of attenuation added by the splitter. transmitter or the optical network UTEL’s Managing Director Frank 2011 aims to bring fibre-to- Traditionally, FTTH maintenance terminal (ONT). The SFP module Kaufman. the home (FTTH) coverage to and troubleshooting has to be is paired with the vendor’s Motive Clearly China will remain 100 million households and 30 performed through external Network Analyzer, which analyses an important market, but as million subscribers by 2015. OTDR equipment, which the resulting data. The technology PON-based FTTH deployments In early 2013, the country also must be connected directly can locate fibre cuts anywhere continue around the world, mandated that any new homes to the fibres under test – a within 20 km in the shared part of service providers everywhere in an area where a fibre network costly operation, especially if the network, but the insertion of are paying more attention is available should have fibre- the operator has to send an a 1:2 splitter reduces the visibility to network diagnostics and based broadband. engineer out to the customer to 15 km from the central office management, says Ovum’s China already consumes premises to examine the drop and a 1:4 splitter reduces it to Julie Kunstler. Service providers the majority of passive optical fibre. just 5 km, according to technical are keen to market their network (PON) equipment, and China Telecom had started to documents. FTTH networks to business the government’s ambitious engage with vendors in 2011 A second systems vendor subscribers, who may have plan should keep equipment about the need for improved has since thrown its hat into contracts that entitle them to sales buoyant in spite of falling diagnostic and monitoring the ring. In April 2013, Huawei financial compensation in the prices, according to market capabilities in PONs. The Technologies announced a case of network outages. FTTH research firm Ovum. Perhaps operator’s preferred approach prototype optical transceiver with networks can also be used to it should come as no surprise was to embed that functionality embedded OTDR functionality backhaul traffic from mobile cell that Chinese telecoms operators into optical line terminal (OLT) that also operates ‘in band’. sites, but this application has have also been pushing hard transceivers. This would allow Based on the results of emulation strict performance requirements for improved diagnostic and them to simply unplug their tests on live networks, Huawei in terms of reliability. In addition, monitoring capabilities in PONs existing OLT modules in the claims the prototype can residential consumers are – and such capabilities have central office and replace them accurately locate faults to within increasingly less accepting recently started to become with new modules containing 5 m in networks with a split ratio of network outages, and will available. the embedded OTDR. Ideally, of up to 1:64. Although Huawei abandon service providers that ‘Service providers want to the OTDR signal would operate claims that its embedded OTDR have an unreliable service. avoid traffic disruptions on independently of live traffic, module can work with high Enhanced network diagnostics their FTTx networks and they so that service would not be density splitters, it’s not really looks like an important also need to lower network disrupted, and be capable of clear how the technologies stack requirement for FTTH networks, deployment and maintenance pinpointing faults through a 1:64 up. and should be a market to expenses’ explained Julie splitter with a resolution of 10 m. However, British technology watch.

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OPTICS FIBRE FUELS Fibre fuels the ‘fast- forward’ for speed charges based on data throughput such as Austria, Belgium and to make superfast broadband for internet access. With the Switzerland are also slower. The (30Mbps+) ISP speeds available majority of new mobile devices overall picture highlights that non- to 100% of households by 2020, having Wi-Fi access, internet EU countries are faring better than but it will achieve 90% coverage access from public hotspots or those in the EU. and most of that will be due to home broadband are becoming Demand-oriented factors show the mass adoption of hybrid-fibre vital elements in this burgeoning that through marketing, take-up (FTTC [Fibre to the Cabinet] and market. is growing well due to the rise in cable) technologies that combine It wasn’t that many years average speeds from 17Mbps fibre optic with existing copper or ago when people would boast (2012) and this is advancing coax cables. This FTTC/VDSL is about their dial-up connections to beyond 30Mbps and the considerably cheaper to deploy achieving as much as 300bps number of devices per household than a full fibre optic (FTTH/P) and they were happy at that time. continued to multiply during network and should be capable of Today, with lightning fast fibre Christmas 2013 although there meeting the 30Mbps target. connections, it is not unreasonable has been no great impact yet from Europe’s Digital Agenda currently for residential users to achieve 3DTV or other high bandwidth aims to achieve 100% coverage By Kendrick Struthers Watson 30+Mbps through fixed or wireless devices. User-generated of basic broadband services (0.5- connections. And of course, photography and video is 4Mbps) by the end of 2013 and here can be little once you can experience speed, inevitably driving for higher upload it also wants superfast speeds to disagreement that the you never want to go slow again demand. be made available to 100% of EU Tintroduction of digital and the race is on for networks In Eastern Europe there has homes by 2020 (with 50% able to communications across all to provide even more speed for been a huge drive in low-cost build access 100Mbps+). As it stands transmission paths has been a consumers. FTTB using inexpensive Ethernet the current level of EU superfast boon to the global community. In Europe, there is a continuing switches and this is continuing coverage is around 54%. The giant advances made in migration to fibre networks and through competition, enormous GSM mobile phone penetration despite the recent economic demand and low costs. In Funding slowdown have helped many to have turmoil, the market is developing Russia it is estimated that market Now that the Connecting Europe internet access for the first solidly although the growth penetration reached 16.7% at the Facility (CEF), which aimed to fund time. Estimates from the ITU patterns vary across European end of 2013. The Baltic States of the rollout of super-fast broadband (International Telecommunications countries. With approximately Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (34%, to rural areas across the continent, Union) suggest that more than 310m households (197m in the 19% and 34% penetration) have has been whittled down to just 6.8bn subscriptions, representing EU and 105m outside) there has all embraced FTTH with gusto. In €1bn, the handbrake has gone 96% of the World population of been slow progress in the Western Estonia, the incumbent is owned on the progress of super-fast 7.1bn, can access voice and data European countries of Germany, by TeliaSonera and the Lithuanian broadband. services. In Europe, there are Italy and UK (currently BT Infinity incumbent has several other In response, vice-president of the approximately 403m subscribers is catching up rapidly, mainly due competitors who are building rival EC in charge of Digital Agenda, and the GSMA (Groupe Speciale to its BT Vision package with its fibre networks. Nellie Kroes, warned that the EU’s Mobile Association) believes this high proportion of Premier Football A new study from Point Topic existing broadband targets of will rise to around 410m by the end coverage). Smaller countries has claimed that Europe will fail 30Mbps and above for all citizens of 2014. by 2020 will now be ‘harder to reach’, and indicated that the Talk is cheap and data on €1bn which has been secured demand will be used exclusively for digital The great proportion of this growth services such as eProcurement is through the demand for instant and eInvoicing. information via the internet. Internet The commissioner added access is now the key driver for that she will work closely with the consumer market with a raft of the European Investment Bank new mobile devices (smartphones, to ensure the latter’s active tablets, phablets etc) flooding the involvement in lending for market, allowing users to have broadband projects: “With the internet access on the move and recent capital increase of the bank in the home via broadband & of €10bn, fresh funding is available WiFi connections. Mobile contract for broadband and we must make bundles invariably are providing a the most of it.” host of free voice minutes with the Typical optical in-building connection Let the build begin!

10 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | The ECOC Exhibition 2014 Bringing the world the latest in optical communications

Date for your diary... Exhibition 22 – 24 September 2014 Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France

www.ecocexhibition.com FIBRE INNOVATION Sweden puts the ‘fibre’ in innovation

all service providers are able to access the passive fibre infrastructure on equal terms – laid the foundations for a vibrant and competitive broadband market. Today the City of Stockholm is considered to be one of the best places in the world to start a business, thanks in no small part to its World- class telecommunications networks. Back in 1994, the city authorities By Karin Ahl decided to invest in a physical fibre network hen it comes to to reduce the number of innovation, Sweden companies digging up W punches above its the streets. The publicly weight. Sweden was ranked as owned (and profitable) the most innovative country in network operator Stokab Europe in September 2013, using supplies dark fibre and a new benchmark created by the city is now reaping the the European Commission. The rewards of near-ubiquitous ‘indicator of innovation output’ connectivity. Today, some measures the extent to which 90% of all Stockholm’s innovative ideas from several key households and virtually industry segments – such as the all of its businesses have environment, energy, ICT, health, fibre connections with Swedish FTTH-enabled eHealth and eCare services are expected to have a positive socio-economic impact and high-technology industries – speeds of up to 1 Gbps. are able to reach the market. Mobile operators are well- The implementation of connected too, with Stockholm be close to its target market – a developers from Estonia. The technology is important. While boasting three competitive LTE country with a well-established company’s story is about bringing something novel is often networks. social care system where looking together talented people with the described as innovative, the act In Stockholm and other Swedish after the elderly was a priority. The resources they need – and for a of invention or discovery isn’t cities where FTTH is available, we start-up culture in science parks start-up whose product doesn’t enough on its own. Innovation find plenty of concrete examples is also an important catalyst for exist without broadband, good only really happens when new of FTTH-enabled innovation. innovation. Science parks are communications are a given. ideas are adopted by the market Commercial streaming music not unique to Sweden, but they As Europe endeavours and used to enhance the quality service Spotify started at KTH are a strong feature of many to solve environmental and of people’s lives. Innovation is a Royal Institute of Technology in universities there. Incubators economic challenges, we will concept that really resonates with Stockholm and today has over provide premises, mentoring need more innovation built the FTTH Council Europe. We 6 million active users. In the first and access to funding, making on a solid foundation of good believe – and a rapidly growing year since its launch in November it easier to start a business. communications infrastructure. number of studies and real-world 2012, Magine, the streaming TV Science parks quite literally “suck Why build expensive new airports examples back up this point service that is often described in” start-ups from nearby regions, and railways when people of view – that high-speed fibre as Spotify for TV, gained well even from other countries, but can carry out business face to the home (FTTH) networks over 500,000 subscribers in the pull is especially strong in to face with advanced video- encourage innovation. Sweden and has since expanded areas with good communications conferencing? Let’s provide more In keeping with its reputation its services into Germany and like Stockholm, Linköping and home-working opportunities, offer for being innovative, Sweden was Spain. The founder of Giraff Malmö. distance-learning services for one of the first countries to deploy Technologies, who created a Perhaps the best-known rurally distributed populations, FTTH networks. Today more than telepresence robot to help the Swedish start-up is Skype, the provide telemedicine and health 22% of households in the country elderly in their homes, packed his Internet telephony service that care at home for the elderly, and have direct connections to fibre bags and moved his company was sold to eBay for $2.6 billion create the smart grid to manage networks (Lithuania is the only to the Swedish city of Västerås, in 2005, then to Microsoft for renewable energy. These services European country with greater which, like Stockholm, has a $8.1 billion in 2011. Swedish will require ubiquitous high-speed FTTH penetration). An early citywide FTTH network. entrepreneur Niklas Zennström communication networks, not start in digital communications It’s not just about co-founded the company only to our businesses but also to combined with a wide range of communications networks, of with Danish colleague Janus our homes. “open access” models – where course. Giraff also wanted to Friis and a team of computer Let Sweden show us the way!

12 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com |

THE YEAR OF EMERGENCE 2014, the year of emerging market technology, open access and smart cities

and it is uncertain at this stage continued existence of copper help businesses build smart, whether the government in place may become an issue down the effective and profitable networks has that. line. able to address the massive The conclusion from these The sad thing is that structural opportunities on offer. Rural events is that when large scale separation (and we now have a broadband in developed markets plans are put in motion to bring functioning example of it in New will most likely rely on similar telecom infrastructure into the Zealand) would solve most of the approaches although the legacy 21st century, governments need issues the market is facing, both may prove to be a big hindrance. to make realistic promises, with funding and competition, at execute them efficiently and a lower cost to those involved Open access: Now that insure that regulation and policy than the current model, but infrastructure sharing ideas are go hand in hand. policy makers don’t seem to gaining traction, an increasing have the want, or desire, to take number of players - public, Open access is finally the matter any further. private and those ‘in-between’ getting mainstream – are looking for involvement. At It has long been argued that The year(s) to come... the same time, they are starting By Benoît Felten open access not only makes While these trends will continue to realise that there’s no ‘Field economic sense but that, in to unfold and, hopefully, a more of Dreams’ effect in technology robably the most significant many countries around the radical approach to policy, adoption and that you have to news of 2013 in the world, it is the only way to get at least in Europe, will be work hard to make an open Pbroadband space was the infrastructure deployed. A few understood to be necessary, access model work. Throughout partial collapse of the Australian years ago the coalition of the there seems little that can be 2013 Diffraction Analysis NBN. unwilling incumbents was so done to influence the process. assisted neutral operators, A highly political project from deeply against the idea that even In emerging markets however, both municipal and national, in the start, its inability to deliver policy makers, for the most part, things are a little different fostering the right ecosystem for within the promised timeframe balked at exploring it. Things are because pragmatism generally adoption to happen as swiftly as provided the country’s newly slowly changing. trumps ideology. The Colombian possible. Figuring out the proper elected government party the We are seeing various forms National Backbone project wholesale offerings, establishing ammunition they needed to of infrastructure sharing emerge is very enlightening in that the right levels of trust between significantly reduce its ambitions around the World, with the respect and is probably the partners and taking an once they had been voted into players involved, increasingly, smartest policy we have seen active role in promotion and power. But, while the reduced including the same incumbent in telecommunications for a commercialisation are all part of scope and ambition of the new operators who had been fighting number of years. the solution. project is a disappointment to tooth and nail against any form those who looked at Australia as of mandated open-access. For growth in the future, three Smart cities: It is a sad state the beacon in forward-thinking Consequently, Public-Private areas are essential: of affairs to realise that many government led broadband, at Partnerships, that impose open cities have invested massive least the core of the structural access, are likely to become Emerging market amounts into their own municipal separation has so far been more and more prevalent, as connectivity: The field to fibre networks and are not preserved. even established players willingly further connect emerging using them for much beyond In New Zealand also, the NBN consider participating. countries, and the rural areas delivering broadband to their has hit some roadblocks. The of developed countries, is wide citizens. Furthermore, cities government, by not adjusting Structural separation open and smart solutions and that don’t have their own assets the regulatory framework doesn’t really get any approaches emerge every day. are increasingly puzzled as to to fibre, caused the whole closer Our research has convinced how they can become smarter Ultrafast Broadband plan to be On the other hand, the ultimate us that the traditional view that while having to rely on third- jeopardized after a drastic price solution to infrastructure sharing ‘only wireless will do’ (and only party networks that are not reduction in wholesale copper and market fairness, structural then in dense urban areas) is designed to do what they need coincided with Chorus and other separation, isn’t really gaining increasingly erroneous. We them to do. A big focus for local fibre companies heavily much traction. Hope that Italy expect to work more and more Diffraction Analysis in 2014 will investing in FTTH. Although would provide a major landmark with emerging markets in the be to establish an infrastructure there are potential solutions they in early 2013 did not materialise coming years to help policy foundation for local governments would require a fair amount of and, although projects in Israel makers set up the right context to really launch themselves in the political clout and coverage, are closer to the mark, the for connectivity growth and to World of smart cities.

14 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | FTTH Conference 2015 See you next year in Warsaw! 10 – 12 February 2015

www.ftthconference.eu OPTICAL NETWORKS BECOME OF AGE Optical networks become of age From early beginnings, optical networks now keep global commerce flowing smoothly

Optical fibre can be used as a medium for telecommunication and computer networking because it is flexible and can be bundled as cables. It is especially advantageous for long-distance communications, because light propagates through the fibre with little attenuation compared to electrical cables. This allows long By Kendrick Struthers Watson distances to be spanned with few repeaters. lthough fibre optics are The per-channel light signals used extensively in modern propagating in the fibre have A communication networks, been modulated at rates as the principle is a relatively old high as 111 gigabits per second technology having been first (Gbit/s) by NTT, although demonstrated in Paris in the 10 or 40 Gbit/s is typical in early 1840’s. Eighty years later deployed systems. In June in the 1920’s, the Scottish 2013, researchers demonstrated Bell Labs in New Jersey – photo Alcatel Lucent television pioneer, John Logie transmission of 400 Gbit/s over Baird demonstrated image a single channel using 4-mode and offices together. An Ethernet deployment of carrier Ethernet transmission through ‘tubes’. orbital angular momentum mode interface is considerably worldwide. The MEF technical The first working fibre-optical division multiplexing. cheaper than a SONET/SDH committee has developed data transmission system was Each fibre can carry many (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) more than 40 specifications, demonstrated by Manfred Börner independent channels, each or PDH (Plesiochronous several of which are on their at Telefunken labs in Ulm in 1965 using a different wavelength Digital Hieracrchy) of the same second and third generations. and this was followed by the of light (wavelength-division bandwidth. Additionally, an The organization also has a first patent application for the multiplexing (WDM)). The net Ethernet-based network can be Certification Committee that technology in 1966. data rate (data rate without easily connected to a customer oversees the certification In the UK, Charles Kao and overhead bytes) per fiber is the network. A typical SP’s (Service programmes for equipment, George Hockham of STC per-channel data rate reduced by Provider) network is a collection services and professionals based (Standard Telephones and the FEC overhead, multiplied by of switches and routers, all on test suites developed by the Cables) were the first to promote the number of channels (usually connected via optical fibre for committee and professional the idea that the attenuation in up to eighty in commercial dense speed, resilience and accuracy. tests. optical fibres could be reduced WDM systems as of 2008). As of The Metro Ethernet Forum One of the main objectives to 20 decibels per kilometer (dB/ 2011 the record for bandwidth (MEF) is a Global alliance of the MEF is to facilitate the km), making fibres a practical on a single core was 101 Tbit/ comprising of more than 220 implementation of existing and communication method. They sec (370 channels at 273 Gbit/ organisations that include new standards, Ethernet service systematically theorised the light sec each). The record for a multi- telecoms and service operators, and management definitions, loss properties for optical fibres core fibre as of January 2013 like Telefónica, Telekom Austria, test procedures and technical and highlighted that the correct was 1.05 petabits per second. In AT&T, BT, China Telecom, Cisco, specifications of the MEF to allow material for such fibres was silica 2009, Bell Labs (an Alcatel Lucent Colt, Ericsson, Fujitsu, NEC, delivery of Ethernet services and glass with high purity. This earned business) broke the 100 (Petabit KPN, T-Mobile (USA), P&T make Carrier Ethernet-based Kao the Nobel Prize in Physics per second) × kilometer barrier Luxembourg, Vodacom, Virgin services core, metro and access in 2009. (15.5 Tbit/s over a single 7000 km Media, Rogers, Singapore networks truly carrier class. Attenuation in modern optical fibre). Telecom, Juniper Networks, From its humble beginnings fibres is far less than in electrical In today’s highly competitive Tata Communications, Huawei, in Paris in 1840, optical cables, leading to long-haul World, industrial, commercial Telecom Italia, Telecom Malaysia, communications have become fibre connections with repeater and financial sectors need ‘best Verizon and ZTE – the list goes on a de-facto Global requirement distances of 70-150 kilometers of class’ Global communication and on of serious telecom players in the cut & thrust of today’s (43-93 miles). The emerging field capabilities and it’s no in the World. business arena where high- of photonic crystals led to the surprise that optical networks The MEF develops Carrier speed networks win the deals development of photonic-crystal play a significant part in that Ethernet architectural, service and do the business. Optical fibre in 1991 and these guide light requirement. Based on Ethernet and management specifications fibre is truly the high-fibre by diffraction rather than by total standards, a MAN (Metro Area and implementation agreements diet necessary for successful internal reflection. Network) connects businesses to promote interoperability and commercial communications.

16 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | Technical REGISTERConference: 9-13 MarchBY 2014 10 Exposition:February 11-13& SAVEMarch 2014

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The exponential growth in content and the need for instantaneous speed will soon overwhelm current networks. But the thought leaders and innovators at OFC 2014 are ready, with cutting-edge ideas and fiber optic solutions to enhance your systems and revolutionize your network architecture. Prepare for the transformation of the network with the insights, technologies and products you’ll only find at OFC 2014. Register Today! OFCconference.org

Technical Conference: 9-13 March 2014 Exposition: 11-13 March 2014 Sponsored by: The Moscone Center San Francisco, California, USA ever growing speed

Do we need fundamentally novel technologies to address the ever growing speed of electrical and optical interfaces?

more than the total number cross-talk and system complexity. match industry standards (first needed for a supercomputer With further silicon scaling, the and foremost IEEE standards) and with productivity of 1 PetaFLOPs optical and electronic pitch the rules for standardization are (1015 floating point operations sizes have diverged, making it very tough. Of most importance, per second). Moving from the difficult to place just a few optical the solution must serve the current 30 PetaFLOPs (Tianhe elements on a surface where installed base. Once the installed 2, China) system to an exascale millions of transistors can be base is served with 850nm- (1018 FLOPS) system will require applied. The natural progression optimized multimode fibres, low more than 300 million optical links, for silicon photonics is to replace modal dispersion around this at a speed, per channel, of at the processor’s copper pins wavelength - 980 nm VCSEL – is least 25Gbit/s and, while copper with optical pins, or to ‘stack’ unable to match the installed interfaces are fading away, optical chips using vertical laser beams base. Secondly, any company solutions face severe challenges similar to the hybrid 3D method of attempting to introduce a new too. stacking using copper connectors solution will be met with ‘distinct The original optical links used through Vias in the ICs. Silicon identity’ issues, as there should be By Nikolay Ledentsov light emitting diodes operating at photonics (or indium phosphide only lone solutions for any given speeds well below 1 Gbit/s. For based integrated photonics) does situation. So it is very difficult to s silicon scaling and the higher speeds it was required appear to be a very promising push new solutions unless those development of 14nm to use vertical-cavity surface- replacement to costly and bulky that already exist have been totally Aprocessor chips continues, emitting lasers (VCSELs) at the wavelength division multiplexing dismissed by the industry. new opportunities and challenges same wavelength (850 nm) but systems in cost-sensitive 850 nm VCSEL’s can currently will arise for interconnect a much narrower spectrum and applications. At moderate (few produce up to 57Gbit/s of manufacturers. Computational at the expense of higher current kilometres) distances it competes error free operation without the power allows for both consumer density and more sophisticated with emerging parallel single use of advanced electronics and high performance extension, technology. Approaching 10Gbit/s mode links addressing the same [2]. Advanced feed-forward with the migration from HDTV to for 850 nm VCSELs already datacentre market. equalization, with pre-emphasis 4k and 8k displays (which provide required significant efforts on the on the driver, allows for an an increase in pixels of 4 and 8 side of degradation robustness, Can conventional 850 nm extended bit rate in excess of 64 times, respectively) providing the as each previous increase in VCSELs provide future high Gbit/s [3]. clearest example. HDTV screens the speed required an increase speed optical links? 25-28Gbps 850nm VCSEL- currently require 10 Gigabit-per- in the current density causing, 980 nm-range VCSELs are based links with ultra-compact second (Gbit/s) bandwidth for in turn, a significant decrease capable of operating at 20Gb/s at assemblies, including drivers signal delivery, a figure which, in in the operation lifetime. As the 150oC [1] where 850nm VCSELs and amplifiers, are capable order to keep the same picture speed of the laser is proportional usually hardly lase at all, so a of temperature-insensitive quality, will need rise to 40 and 160 to the square root of the current, solution may appear to be evident. operations of up to 85oC, with Gbit/s, for 4k and 8k displays. 3D for the same basic design a However, to win the market a power consumption close to 5-6 and volumetric displays will also six-fold higher current density device should first be introduced mW/Gbit/s [4]- about half of the absorb much higher bandwidths. is needed to reach 25 Gbit/s. to the market. To secure mass power budget set by roadmaps Historically, interconnect Operational lifetime is shrinking to applications the device must for exascale computers. bandwidth has increased four- unacceptable levels. fold per single channel every But addressing such a challenge five years, with the ‘channel motivated researchers around per link’ number increasing by the World to find solutions which a factor of five each decade. would provide a reliable lasting As the overall space allowed path for years to come. for Interconnects on the board, Silicon photonics is thought to box or rack level is limited, the be a promising candidate that spacing between the channels could provide viable solutions must decrease as the speed per to integrate, potentially, tens of channel increases. For copper channels in a waveguide system, interconnects, electromagnetic allowing wavelength multiplexing, pollution, the related shielding, electro-optic modulation and weight and power consumption detection in a single wafer. The issues have already led to a wide- main obstacle so far has been spread replacement with optical the lack of a silicon technology interconnects. In 2008, a single compatible laser source, while Fig. 1. The results of bit error ratio (BER) measurements and the related eye diagrams at nominal rack of an IBM computer required the use of external sources has and reduced power consumption of the driver and amplifier electronics in compact VIS TO-can subassemblies. Temperature-insensitive operation at BER<10-12 is realized at 6 mW/Gbps. 60 thousand optical channels, created optical losses, optical

18 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | every growing speed

108 Reliability studies of industrial range beyond 1260 nm, which 2300 years differential gain, which is vital 850nm VCSELs have been held is accepted for standard single 107 Ea=0.9 eV for high speed and in this case a conservative mode fibre. In all applications, 18kA/cm2 0 operation. design is more suitable. using an integrated VCSEL- 106 25 C 23 years Prevention of Modern VIS designs used in modulator device [7], where carrier leakage subassemblies are expected the speed is decoupled from 105 750C by proper design to allow a lifespan, at room the current density, offers a 0 2 of the region temperature, exceeding 2,000 path towards ultrahigh speed, 104 90 C 25kA/cm surrounding the years (expected time to 1% low power consumption data failure). More than 600 single transmission at ultrahigh 103 1200C gain medium is equally important. chips were aged with no sudden operation temperatures 0 2 150 C It is also very failures, while only a smooth (>100oC). Time to 1% failure (hours) to 1% failure Time 10 important that degradation was revealed at Amazing progress has been 101 32kA/cm2 the addition very high current densities and made by VCSEL researchers and 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,6 2,7 2,8 2,9 3,0 3,1 3,2 3,3 3,4 of modern ageing temperatures. we should expect more bright 1000/k (K-1) technologies of To conclude, prospects for achievements in the future. photonic crystals the interconnect industry are Fig. 2. Estimation of the operation lifetime of 28Gbit/s 850 nm [4] enables good. For standard low cost 1. N. Ledentsov, Proc. SPIE 7224, 7224-23 VCSEL having a 6 µm oxide-confined aperture. It is challenging 850nm VCSEL energy efficient multimode fibre (2009). to extend the total ageing time to more than 8-9 thousand to operate at a links no drastic changes in 2. P. Westbergh et al., Electronics Letters 49 pp. 1021 - 1023 (2013). hours (one year). Thus accelerated ageing studies at very high single mode and the technology are necessary. 3. D. Kuchta at al. Abstracts of the Optical temperatures and current densities are necessary to evaluate reach 25Gbit/s With further advances 850 nm Fiber Conference OFC2014, 2014 the expected lifetime. transmission at VCSEL could reach 100 Gbit/s Th3C.2. very low current operation, whilst keeping to high 4. J. P. Turkiewicz at al, Abstracts of the On the design side, a densities of just reliability levels, and integration Optical Fiber Conference OFC2014, 2014 Th3C.4 transformation to VCSEL, 4kA/cm2. These achievements of multiple wavelength channels, 5. E. Yablonovitch, Physical Review Letters allowing no in-plane cavity have allowed error free using silicon photonics concepts 58, pp. 2059–2062 (1987) modes (‘antiguiding’) appears to 25Gbit/s data transmission over to serve single mode fibre links, 6. M. Tan et al. IEEE Photonics Technology be important. Strain engineering multimode fibre links, extending will encourage transfer of the Letters, Vol. 25 Issue:18 doi: 10.1109/ FIBER_SYSTEM_01_14_in the gain medium 03.12.13 may be 09.37 Paginaover 1km 1 at a received power of knowledge accumulated for 850 LPT.2013.2275351 7. V.A. Shchukin et al, Appl. Phys. Lett. 104 useful for engineering of the only -10dBm. nm devices towards the spectral (2014).

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Indium phosphide based photonic components enabling pluggable coherent optics

clear is the important role that the signal transmission laser noise characteristics needed for Indium Phosphide (InP) based and to act as a local oscillator in coherent systems, without the photonic components will play. the receiver; need for an external cavity. First- Similar to what has happened • DP I&Q modulator with low generation coherent systems have in the 10G market, it’s expected electrical drive power, low generally employed external-cavity that a different set of photonic insertion loss, low chirp and lasers, which tend to be larger and components will dominate high extinction ratio; more complex than single-chip the 2nd and 3rd generation of • DP I&Q coherent receiver, solutions and have limited potential coherent 100G deployments, incorporating 90° optical for photonic integration. where power dissipation, density hybrids and dual balanced The DS-DBR design can be and cost become increasingly photodetectors for each adapted as shown in Fig. 1 important. Only highly integrated polarization state, coupled to for coherent transmission by components will be able to meet TIAs which provide the electrical optimizing the cavity geometry the challenging requirements outputs to feed the ADCs for and the multi-quantum-well gain of the high-volume metro subsequent digital processing section, offering a lower intrinsic and regional network market. of the incoming signals. linewidth enhancement factor By Mark Ives Specifically, when it comes Only a successful combination [1] (“Henry factor”), as well as to providing 100G coherent of all of these building blocks, superior operational characteristics ast year represented another functionality in a pluggable shown below in Fig. 1, will enable at high operating temperature [2] period of remarkable form factors such as a CFP the next generation of pluggable which also reduces overall power L growth in the deployment of that incorporates the DSP, or an coherent optics. Essentially the dissipation. coherent 100G DWDM systems, analog CFP2 where the DSP same photonic components With this development, it has with around 35,000 total ports is located on the host card. In can be utilized for both 100G been demonstrated that the shipped into the core optical this article, we will discuss how DP-QPSK and 200G 16-QAM DS-DBR laser is compatible with network. Fast forward to 2015 and photonic integration based on InP transmission. coherent system requirements these volumes are forecasted to will make these next generation and offer all of the advantages that grow to some 110,000 coherent coherent networks possible. Tunable lasers accrue from a single-chip design, 100G ports. Narrow-linewidth tunable laser which enables integration of the So what is fuelling this A ‘trio’ of InP-based solutions based on the Digital laser with an InP- based DP I&Q phenomenal level of growth? On photonic components Supermode Distributed Bragg modulator - a key enabling step one hand, various DSP engines There are several challenges Reflector (DS-DBR) designs have for next generation pluggable form and other electronic components in the introduction of compact, been the basis for a range of factors. are now available with new variants monolithic devices for 100G ITLA, ITTA and small form-factor that have been tailored for low – with these key photonic transponder products for 10Gbit/s InP dual-polarization I&Q power dissipation. On the other components being required: and 40Gbit/s for many years. modulator hand, significant progress has • Full-band tunable laser with A key recent accomplishment has Compared to lithium niobate been made on the photonic side high power, narrow linewidth been to advance this monolithic modulators, which have been used and what is becoming increasingly and low phase noise, both for design to achieve the low phase almost exclusively for coherent

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Figure 1 – Transponder functionality for coherent transmission. Also shown are InP PIC’s providing the opto-electronic building blocks: tunable laser, DP I&Q modulator and optical hybrid receiver.

20 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | enabling coherent optics

hardware development, InP-based Integrated coherent and provide an estimate of output power and a phase noise modulators can realize dramatic receivers transmitted data. profile designed for coherent reduction in chip footprint. InP To recover a complete electrical The InP-based monolithic transmission, the availability I&Q modulators have already representation of an incoming integration approach we adopt of high-speed InP modulators been deployed commercially optical field requires detection has a number of advantages with sufficient bandwidth for for DQPSK transmission at of two polarisation states with for implementation of the ICR. 32Gbaud or higher transmission 40Gb/s, and suitability of the InP their respective in-phase and While polarization splitting is that, at the same time, keep modulator for use at 100Gb/s quadrature (I&Q) components. performed in micro-optics, the the drive voltage within the has been established through This is accomplished in an 90º optical hybrid, waveguide bounds of the overall power system simulation and practical integrated coherent receiver photodetector pairs, passive budget and the realization of measurements in system (ICR), first through polarization routing and test features have a high performance and highly environments that include splitting of the incoming signal; been integrated on a small compact coherent receiver. transmission using DP-QPSK and each separate polarisation footprint InP chip, as shown 16-QAM modulation formats. component is then launched in Fig. 1. This approach has References Delivery of the 32Gbaud into a 90º optical hybrid together yielded a very compact ICR, [1] S Davies et al., “Narrow Linewidth, High 100Gbit/s solution has been with an unmodulated LO which meets MSA performance Power, High Operating Temperature Digital Supermode Distributed Bragg achieved by advancing existing reference signal with matched requirements but is considerably Reflector Laser”, ECOC 2013, London 40Gb/s solutions to include parallel polarisation. In conjunction smaller in size, consistent with (September 2013). channels for the two independent with 8 high-bandwidth the requirements for CFP2 [4]. [2] A J Ward et al., “Monolithic Integration polarizations, as well as optimizing matched photodetectors In summary, with recent of AlInGaAs DS-DBR Tunable Laser and AlInGaAs MZ Modulator with Small the driver interface, drive voltage and 4 differential-input progress on the photonic Footprint, Low Power Dissipation and and RF bandwidth [3]. Polarization transimpedance amplifiers component side, the goal of Long-Haul 10Gb/s Performance”, ECOC handling is achieved in micro- (TIAs), the optical hybrids pluggable coherent optics 2013, London (September 2013). [3] R A Griffin, “InP-Based High-Speed optics external to the chip. Fig. 1 map the optical signal field to has been demonstrated. Transponder”, OFC 2014, San includes a fully integrated device 4 electrical signals. Following Probably the most significant Francisco, USA, 9 – 13 March 2014. providing 100Gbit/s DP-QPSK digitization with ADCs, accomplishments using InP- [4] SG Farwell, “InP Coherent Receiver functionality developed for next sophisticated digital signal based photonic integration Chip with High Performance and Manufacturability for CFP2 Modules”, generation coherent pluggable processing (DSP) is applied have been the development W1I.6, OFC2014, San Francisco, USA, modules. to compensate impairments of a DS-DBR laser with high 9-13 March 2014.

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The 11th FTTH Conference, third days offering an exhibition • Financing of FTTH networks organised by the FTTH Council with over 90 participating • Marketing of FTTH networks Europe, will take place in members and a full conference, and take-rates Stockholm, Sweden, from 18 to covering the following main topics: • The role of FTTH in smart cities 20 February and with more than • Sweden and the Nordics as a and smart regions 3,000 attendees in 2013, is the showcase of the positive effects • Innovative solutions for fibre largest FTTH specific conference of FTTH networks in the World. • Fibre-enabled services like Over the next two pages we eHealth, care for elderly people, have highlighted our ‘must see’ The event opens with a day of eGovernment and new ways of exhibitors and the products they workshops, with the second and working are showcasing. AND Solution to demonstrate latest software

ND Solution will be colleagues out on the network. demonstrating the latest As well as viewing network data, A version of their software a further option provides redlining solution for the design and functions; Simply brilliant and documentation of access brilliantly simple. networks, including FTTH and FFTO/D. AND Alert: Interface to network Some of the recently introduced and performance monitoring features include: solutions allowing real time display of data in the network AND WebAccess & AND documentation. AND DocBox: An integrated photos, videos, etc. These Redliner: Web-based solutions documentation management can be ‘dropped’ onto network (for iPAD, Android tablet/ AND WMSclient: Pull in maps system allowing comfortable objects such as POPs, street smartphone, Windows notebook, from any source – Google, Bing, management of documents such cabinets, MDUs, etc. etc) aimed especially at Esri, Smallworld, etc. as permits, test protocols, Stand – B8 Anritsu’s new Fiber Visualizer

nritsu will introduce faster by automatically selecting a new Fiber the correct testing parameters, AVisualizer for its analyzing the data, and providing MT9090A Network a clear PASS/FAIL summary of Master and MT9083 the results. Access Master platforms, Fiber Visualizer provides an creating a choice of easy step-through process for field test solutions that optical fibre testing, including simplify conducting parameter selection, trace highly accurate acquisition, event analysis, measurements of fibre PASS/FAIL acceptance, and cables, connections, report generation. A graphical and splices when summary of the entire fibre installing or maintaining is presented when testing is high-speed, FTTH, complete to provide users CATV, Access, Mobile with an unmatched level of Backhaul, FTTA, DAS visibility into the fibre span. A and Metro networks. The dedicated button allows users Fiber Visualizer, which to quickly toggle between the allows field technicians icon-based graphical summary of any skill level to and the OTDR trace, while a have access to the comprehensive customized most advanced testing PDF report of the results is also capabilities, makes quickly generated. fibre testing easier and Stand B49

22 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | Diamond introduce DiaLink and OLID Intelligent Components

DiaLink ‘before activation’ fiber optic Developed for FTTH installations, line testing, or as permanently the DiaLink is a slender and integrated existing P2P network unique connector system that can elements. be used to change the location Compatible with central office or of a fibre connection (opposite OTO (Optical Termination Outlet) corner of a room, a new room, installation, they provide fast and or even to a different floor), or clear Optical Line Identification to simply pull directly into an to help minimize installation installation duct. errors and maximize easy troubleshooting. OLID Intelligent Stand S18 components OLID components, designed using FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) technology, are suitable for

Senko’s new and improved Smart Cleaner enko will showcase its MPO Smart Cleaner offers 600 new and improved Smart cleaning cycles, a new improved SCleaner range, including true one-click action (self- the Smart Cleaner for FC, winding) and the ferrule locks SC, ST & E2000 PC & APC into position on the cleaner, so ferruled connectors and the no need to hold the ferrule in Smart Cleaner for MU & LC position. This product is easier PC & APC ferruled connectors. to use on patch cord connector Replacement cartridges that ferrules or patch panel ports. offer the advantage of reducing The cleaning head is waste & costs are available for protected by a dust these two Smart Cleaners with cap when not in use. A 750+ cleaning cycles. New in the simple push action will catalogue is the Smart Cleaner clean the ferrule end- Mini, suitable for use in confined face with a lint-free micro-fibre spaces. The cleaner does not cloth, with a fresh replacement have a replacement cartridge wound on after each clean. and offers approximately 400+ Available orange colour and with cleaning cycles. The unit has a sturdier build, the company a 104mm length and is also are confident of a positive available with FC & SC ferrule response to the new sized cleaning tips and in LC & range. MU ferrule sized tips. The new Stand B14

| Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | 23 March event focus - ofc 2014

OFC is the optical communications • 100G/400G Network Design industry’s meeting place for the and Optimization first half of each calendar year, with • 1Tb and Beyond Optical over 550 exhibiting companies and Networking 12,000 attendees. Spread over 5 • Wavelength Agile Access Networks days, from 9 to 13 March (exhibition • Virtualization and Software Defined runs 11 to 13 March) hot topics for Networks (SDN) this year include: High-Speed Photonic Integration • Cloud and Data Centre Networking for Coherent Detection • Bandwidth Exhaust (Space • Silicon Photonics/Integrated Division Multiplexing) Photonics

APEX Technologies announce new ‘long pattern and PRBS pattern analysis’ Optical Complex Spectrum Analyser

PEX Technologies have EVM and BER estimation. Analyser, with 125 times better announced the launch of their The new and unique feature of wavelength resolution than the AAP264XB Optical Complex this equipment is its availability best standard grating based Spectrum Analyser (OCSA), to measure any modulation OCSA, the equipment combines which can be used as an optical format and any baud rate high wavelength bandwidth modulation analyser and as an cycling signal modulated with a resolution filter 0.16 pm (20 MHz), optical spectrum analyser. PRBS pattern or a long pattern. high wavelength accuracy +/- 3 As an optical modulation analyser, With a measurement speed of pm and high dynamic range it can measure chirp, phase, alpha ~1 Hz, it can separately and 83 dB. Two internal channels high performance tunable laser parameter or pulse shape as a simultaneously measure two allow the measurement of both source, or as a component function of time. Furthermore, it can polarization axes and analyse polarization axes simultaneously. analyser to characterize any display constellation, phase eye Pol-Mux modulated formats. The user can also operate optical component. diagram, intensity eye diagram, As an Optical Spectrum this OCSA as an independent Stand 2202 The new ModCon Mode Controller from Arden Photonics

he Arden Photonics measurements When using a ModCon, you ModCon Mode Controller is can differ launch the same distribution of T a compact and lightweight significantly modes into the fibre regardless module that will modify simply because of the source being used your LED or VCSEL light an OTDR uses a and consequently reduce the source to provide repeatable EF laser source and uncertainty in your measurements compliant launch conditions. By not an LED. due to variation between sources. simply plugging the ModCon These widely In summary, the ModCon into your light source you will different modal increases the accuracy of be provided with a stable and characteristics measurements, gives better consistent EF compliant output bandwidth in multimode fibres are between sources used in agreement between test data sets that meets IEC 62180-4-1:2009. highly dependent on the modal measuring fibre optic systems and is a simple and certifiable condition of the light source and networks result in a large and method of complying with How does it work? used for the measurement. For source dependent uncertainty in international standards. Measurements of loss and example, OTDR and LS/PM loss the accuracy of measurements. Stand 2403 EXFO’s intelligent Optical Link Mapper

he intelligent Optical Link ever been. And since the company platforms, notably the new Mapper (iOLM) lets you designs and optimizes each MAX-700B series which is the Ttake advantage of the full OTDR model so that it offers the first tablet-inspired OTDR line power of your Optical Time- best possible performance for its that is handy, lightweight and Domain Reflectometers (OTDR), specific market needs, this unique rugged enough for any outside bringing automation to a new fibre characterization tool covers plant environment. With a 7-inch, level and enabling even untrained all common fibre applications, outdoor-enhanced touchscreen technicians to become test such as FTTx last-mile, FTTH/ -the most efficient handheld the new and improved OTDR 2.0 experts in no time. The iOLM PON, Metro, CWDM and more display in the industry- the environment offers icon-based integrates all of Exfo’s expertise recently FTTA and data centres MAX-700B series delivers an functions, instant boot-up and into simple, easy-to-use software with the addition of a multimode unprecedented user experience. a 12hour full-day rechargeable that will take your OTDR testing version. The iOLM is compatible Its intuitive Windows-like GUI battery that will never let you down. capabilities further than they’ve with many of EXFO’s powerful ensures a fast learning curve and Stand 1323

24 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | visualizer_v2-op-conns_Layout 1 29/01/2014 14:59 Page 1

Get a better view of your fiber

NEW Fiber Visualizer - get a graphical summary of all your fibers faults The NEW Fiber Visualizer simplifies the entire fiber testing process. Automatically setting the correct test parameters for your fiber, it quickly and easily displays a self explanatory graphical summary of the fiber under test. Instantly highlighting any problems with the location and severity. A pdf report can then be generated to complete the test process. Find out more and Available now on the uOTDR & MT9083 Access Master series. download the Guide to Understanding OTDRs • Test up to four wavelengths with a single unit Scan the code below. • 7 inch widescreen TFT-LCD, ready to test in 15 seconds • Test ultra-long fibers >200 km and rapid PON testing up to 128 splits • NOW with larger screen, longer battery life and only 2.6 kg • One button pdf report generation

Scan the code to find out more and get your FREE Guide to Understanding OTDRS.

Sales Offices: Europe 44 (0) 1582-433433, USA and Canada 1-800-ANRITSU, Japan 81 (46) 223-1111, Asia-Pacific (852) 2301-4980, www.anritsu.com ©2013 Anritsu Company March event focus - OFC 2014

JGR Optics Inc. to showcase new MS05B Compact Benchtop Mainframe

he MS05B is and return loss testing within a with a space sensitive designed to work MS05B single station. A MS12- application, or those simply Twith any external PM power meter module can be looking for an efficient benchtop computer running added for more efficient high solution, to benefit from the Windows XP or 7 via the through-put testing. Furthermore, same high quality IL and RL provided PCI interface a MS7 1xN optical switch can be measurements as our MS12001 card. The MS05B allows added for multi-fiber testing. system’, said company CEO, both single-mode and ‘The new MS05B compact Pierre Leonard. multimode insertion loss mainframe will allow customers Stand 721 Molex brings leading edge fiber optic solutions to high-speed, high-density applications dvanced fibre optic platforms designed for high- consortium of companies components manufacturer, speed networking, including the dedicated to defining AMolex Incorporated offer Molex QSFP+™ and zQSFP+ specifications and promoting a full range of solutions for AOC interconnect systems, adoption of interoperable networking, telecommunications, iPass+™ high density AOCs, and 400Gbps hot pluggable industrial, medical, military, and the Impel™ 25 Gbps backplane modules. Also on display other industries. Dedicated to system, in addition to FlexPlane™ will be the new zCD™ providing the right signal speed, optical flex circuitry, VersaBeam™ interconnect system for design flexibility and scalability MT interconnects, compact 400 Gbps next-generation to propel next-generation system VITA 66.1 ruggedized optical MT telecommunications, architectures, Molex state-of-the-art backplane interconnects, and networking and enterprise technologies address challenges optical EMI shielding adapters computing environments. Formats transceivers, the zCD interconnect in data centres and other resource for harsh environment networking will include a short body version offers the fastest, densest intensive applications. During applications. Molex is among the for passive or active copper cables connector on the market today. OFC Molex will feature end-to-end founding members of the CDFP and long body version for AOCs or Stand 3863 Phoenix Photonics to showcase new SDM components hoenix Photonics, the Phoenix has the technologies and a developing market interest always informed our design and UK-based optical fibre expertise to manufacture high- in SDM techniques to address technical decisions, and we strive Pcomponents specialist, will quality optical fibre components. the potential capacity crunch. to keep our clients well-prepared showcase a new range of fibre The company’s portfolio already Multimode transmission is a for future developments. As spatial mode control components, includes a very popular range possible solution to meet the usual, we are proud to present complementing its polarization of all-fibre polarization control industry’s needs, and Phoenix is our new products at OFC this mode control range. The products. The new components currently using all-fibre technology March.’ company will demonstrate are a result of Phoenix’s to develop a new range of passive Phoenix primarily provides mode converters for research in the EU supported spatial mode control components. optical fiber components and Few Moded Fibres MODE-GAP project, Dr. Ian Giles, CEO of the modules for telecommunications and Photonic Lantern investigating mode company says: ‘At Phoenix test and measurement technology for SDM division multiplexing Photonics, we place a great instrumentation and sensing (Space Division for next generation emphasis on R&D. Our efforts, systems. The company also Multiplexing). telecommunication including both independent supplies university R&D As a networks. and collaborative projects, have departments and research result of its With increasing allowed us to stay at the forefront establishments developing next innovative demands for of the optics industry. Our generation systems. R&D work, data, there is knowledge of the industry has Stand 3675 Yenista start OSA20 production fter performing live and manufacturing environments. The OSA20 has an extensive demonstrations to introduce Rapid scans of up to 2000 suite of built-in analysis modes Athe product at ECOC last nm/s combined with a 20 pm and functions enabling rapid September, Yenista Optics has wavelength resolution bandwidth, analysis for most common started production of the OSA20. A high performance monochromator applications - channel analysis of modern diffraction-grating based and sampling every 2 pm, achieve DWDM signals, detailed analysis instrument, operating from 1250 to very fast, ultra-precise spectral of single and multi-mode lasers, 1700 nm, it is the first of its kind to measurements. Accuracy is also broadband sources, optical fiber USB and gigabit Ethernet ports use a touch sensitive display, with excellent with ±20 pm wavelength amplifiers and passive optical that allow integration into a broad multi-touch gesture control and accuracy over the C and L bands components. range of test systems. has been designed for both R&D and ±0.4 dB power level accuracy. The modern interface includes Stand 3349

26 | Optical Connections Q1 2014 | www.opticalconnectionsnews.com | EXPERIENCE PRESENT AND FUTURE PHOTONIC COMPONENTS, NETWORKS AND SYSTEMS

Meet us at ECOC 2014 Germany Pavilion | booth 244-293

Photonic Components Photonic Networks and Systems research | production | development services research | products | services test and development environments

„ Detectors and photoreceivers „ Network design and modeling „ InP based Mach-Zehnder modulators „ Tbps data transmission and processing „ Lasers „ High-speed access and in-house networks „ Polymer optoelectronic integrated circuits „ Optical satellite communications „ Terahertz generation and detection „ Visible light communications „ Diffractive optical elements „ InP-based wafers for optical and opto-electronic components

Contact Torsten Mehlhorn | [email protected] Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute | Einsteinufer 37 | 10587 Berlin | Germany www.hhi.fraunhofer.de

140124_Anzeige_AWG_Nexus_2014.indd 1 24.01.14 19:26 Kamaxoptic Communication Ltd, is a specialist manufacturer of ber optic components and assemblies. Over 10 years experience in mass production guarantee the reliability and performance you rely on for your customers. PLCS, CWDM, Cable assemblies, MPO / MTP, Adapter, Connector and much more. We are renowned world-wide for quality, fast delivery and our after-sales service so contact us now to nd out how we can partner you and improve your margins. Kamaxoptic Communication Co., Ltd. 4F, Block 3, Unibuilt Technology Industrial Park Dalang, Bao’an 518109, Shenzhen, China [email protected] www.koc.com.cn 7EPIWSJ½GI)YVSTI[[[OEQE\IYVSTIGSQMRJS$OEQE\IYVSTIGSQ