Case Study
Data Center Interconnections with O-band DWDM Technology
Background & Challenge
A Canadian network operator for the higher education and research sectors needed to connect client data centers to its network at 100G data rates. Key requirements included:
- Support 100G connections.
- Range from 2 km to 20 km.
- Leverage existing fiber assets to avoid costly new fiber deployments.
Compatibility with existing QSFP-28 equipped network gear.
Solution
FONEX recommended LambdaGain 100G O-band DWDM optical technology, an easy-to-deploy 100G solution that offers compatibility with the operator’s existing QSFP-28 network equipment, and which can deliver up to 8 X 100G services over a single pair of fibers. O-band DWDM connections can reach from 30 Km to 40 Km depending on the network configuration. Since the distance requirements for this application were within the capabilities of O-band DWDM, the technology was an ideal fit that combined ease of deployment and cost-effectiveness.
Key Features of O-Band DWDM
- Extended Range & Speed
O-band DWDM technology supports 100G services at distances up to 40Km in single wavelength links, and up to 30 Km in multiplexed systems with 8 wavelengths. Lower signal dispersion in the O-band (1260-1360 nm) enables extended range, using standard PAM4 modulation, and without amplification or dispersion compensation.
- Cost-effectiveness
100G O-band PAM4 transceivers are more affordable than coherent DWDM transceivers and offer seamless integration with QSFP28-equipped switches and routers, eliminating the need for costly equipment upgrades. Moreover, O-Band DWDM is compatible with single fiber operation, and eliminates the cost of leasing or deploying additional fiber for operators that rely on single fiber architectures.
- Quick Deployment
100G O-Band PAM4 transceivers are simple to integrate into host platforms, particularly when compared to more sophisticated 100G Coherent transceivers. The result is an exceptionally quick and straightforward deployment process.
- Scalability
O-band technology offers a scalable pathway for future upgrades. A simple O-band deployment can begin with a single 100G link operating over dedicated fiber; as demand increases, implementing DWDM multiplexing enables support for up to 8 O-band services (800G in total) on a single pair of fibers, offering a robust, long-term solution to increasing capacity requirements.
Implementation:
FONEX provided a complete solution consisting of both LambdaGain O-band DWDM mux/demux units as well as 100G QSFP28 O-band transceivers. LambdaGain configured and verified the 100G O-band transceivers for compatibility with the operator’s existing network platforms, and the operator was able to install, test, and approve the new 100G optics themselves.
Outcome
LambdaGain 100G O-Band DWDM technology from FONEX proved to be the most affordable and straightforward solution for this high-performance network and enabled the network operator to achieve all its goals for the new high-speed network connections:
- Accelerated Project Timeline: Design, testing and approval of the solution was achieved in only weeks; significantly faster compared to coherent DWDM technology. The O-band DWDM solution also delivered much faster service activation for the clients than would have been possible if new fiber had been deployed to increase capacity.
- Cost Savings: By leveraging existing network switches equipped with QSFP-28 ports, the network operator not only improved their service delivery time, but also avoided significant capital expenses.
- Future-proofness: The O-band solution incorporates 8-channel multiplexers, allowing the network operator to easily expand their service offerings as demand increases.
LambdaGain O-band DWDM technology proved that implementing 100G access links can be done quickly and easily, even at extended ranges in excess of 30 km, without the need for dispersion compensation or amplification. In practice, O-band technology offers a drop-in upgrade of 10G services to 100G without incurring any change to fiber optic facilities or existing switch equipment equipped with QSFP28 format ports.
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Understanding Why the O-Band Solution Works
- O-band operation in the 1260-1360 nm range offers lower dispersion loss compared to traditional DWDM wavelengths in the C-band (1530-1565 nm). Dispersion becomes the limiting factor to extended range as speeds increase beyond 10G.
- At 100G speeds, traditional C-band DWDM optics using PAM4 modulation are limited to approximately 2Km of reach due to chromatic dispersion. On the other hand, O-Band DWDM solutions reach up to 40 km using PAM4 modulation, without the need for complex and costly dispersion compensation and optical amplification.
- Because 100G O-band DWDM transceivers use PAM4 modulation, they are simple to configure and integrate with host platforms, meaning that they can be deployed more quickly and more cost-effectively than 100G Coherent DWDM transceivers.
