An explosion in bandwidth demand in today’s data center is driving an urgent need for higher Ethernet network speeds. Several factors are contributing to this, including broadband penetration fueled by video-rich content, a booming demand for storage and redundancy, and exponential growth in R&D and super computer activities. A presentation by OFS explains the drivers behind this growth, the technologies being developed to meet tomorrow’s need for bandwidth, and the optical fiber choices that can help the user create a cost-effective and reliable high-performance network.
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When installing a new long haul fiber optic network, the quality and properties of the optical cable products can determine the future return on your entire investment. Therefore, selecting the optical fiber in your system carefully is a crucial step in helping to ensure the highest value for your network. A new paper from OFS examines the economics of the decision-making process and explains how two key fiber parameters – chromatic dispersion and PMD – can affect network performance and ROI.
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To meet market demand for higher speed transmission, the IEEE 802.3ba Task Force is working to develop 40G and 100G standards simultaneously. For short reach 40G and 100G applications on multimode fiber, the task force (of which OFS is a participant) will very likely define a Physical Media Dependant (PMD) solution involving already-proven parallel optics technology. This will preserve the low-cost advantage of today’s VCSEL light sources. These parallel systems will transmit one 10 Gb/s signal on each of 4 or 10 fibers (for 40G and 100G, respectively). Each 10 Gb/s signal will be aggregated in an arrayed transceiver containing 4, or 10, VCSELs and detectors. For these parallel systems, IEEE is striving for a minimum reach of 100 meters, specifically on OM3 fiber. That’s not to say 100 meters will be settled upon. Within 802.3ba there are many proponents of a longer reach capability, upwards of 200 meters or more. This would likely require use of an OM3+ (or OM4) extended-reach laser-optimized fiber.

In high-speed parallel transmission systems, delay skew is the difference in signal arrival time from one lane – or fiber – to the next. Although skew sounds like it could be a critical parameter in tomorrow’s 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s systems, in reality it is easily compensated for within the transceiver circuitry. The IEEE 802.3ba Task Force writing the standards for these applications (see article above) will ensure that proper skew compensation is written into the standard such that any industry-recognized cable design (including Loose Tube, Tight Buffer, or Ribbon) can be accommodated, and the full range of current, industry-standard OM3 multimode fibers can be used.

... Timothy Murray has been named CEO and Chairman of OFS Fitel LLC. He replaces Katsuhiko (“Jack”) Murota, who returns to Japan to become the head of the Telecom Company of Furukawa Electric Co. (FEC), OFS’ parent company

… OFS reached a major customer milestone when Eurocabel-1, a leading Russian optical cable manufacturer, purchased its 1 millionth kilometer of OFS fiber

… OFS UltraWave® Fiber has once again demonstrated the capability to span trans-Pacific and other long distance submarine routes with DWDM systems operating at 10 Gb/s. In the past year, this dispersion slope matched design has been installed in several new long distance submarine projects around the globe

... Commitment to excellence over the past year has earned OFS recognition as an outstanding supplier to affiliates of AT&T. OFS was recognized for its contributions in the area of Product/ Service Performance.