HUBER+SUHNER Cube Optics discusses 100G DC Interconnect – Challenges and Solutions

Speaking at DC World Frankfurt earlier this month, Susmita Adhikari, Product Placement Manager at HUBER+SUHNER Cube Optics, discussed the current developments in 100G technology, with a focus on the two market available 100G transport approaches: multicarrier direct detection and single carrier coherent.

The invention of optical amplifiers heralded the proliferation of WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) technology in network architectures, boosting high capacity transmission with multiple 10 Gbps and/or 40 Gbps services per fiber. Now however, with the rapidly accelerating growth in bandwidth-intense applications the deployment of even higher capacity WDM systems, not only in long haul but also in metro data center interconnect systems, is becoming increasingly necessary.

The metro network boom is being driven by a number of key factors including a predicted rise in traffic of over 550 per cent by 2017, as well as increased video traffic (fixed and mobile) of over 700 percent and an increase in cloud data centre traffic of over 400 per cent. In fact total metro traffic will grow approximately twice as fast as traffic going into the backbone network by 2017.

Typically a metro network will already exist, often relying on multiple 1Gbps or 10Gbps services which are multiplexed over the dark fiber network. Therefore to minimise CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) and OPEX (Operational Expenditure), the aim is not to take down the network and replace it with new infrastructure, but to migrate towards a 100G DC-metro network - ensuring economic viability at the same time as achieving greater space, power and bandwidth efficiency. It is also essential that the upgrade is inherently flexible to further accommodate newer equipment, as per demand, and support lower latency.

Conventionally, a 100Gbps service is realized via a transponder employed between the client and line side of the network.

However the HUBER+SUHNER Cube Optics passive 100Gbps transport solution removes the need for the power consuming transponder therefore simplifying transport and making additional element management obsolete. Consequently, the active parts (transceivers) are operated, controlled and managed directly via DSLAM / Router / Switch.

And, since passive transport has less active elements, it offers not only lower CAPEX/OPEX but also higher reliability and lower latency and this is a very attractive solution for metro-DC networks which are very cost-sensitive.