JDSU preparing to launch tunable SFP+ module
Created October 4, 2012JDSU will soon bring to market its tunable SFP+ pluggable module, and has already delivered to equipment makers samples of the compact tunable laser design.
The company, which demonstrated the tunable SFP+ at the recent ECOC exhibition, has not given a date when it will start production. “It won’t be long,” said Brandon Collings, CTO for communications and commercial optical products, who points out that the company has been demonstrating the pluggable laser for over six months.
The tunable SFP+ is the follow-on product to JDSU‘s tunable XFP. The tunable XFP is a pluggable replacement for the relatively large 300-pin transponders. Oclaro is another vendor that offers a tunable XFP.
The tunable XFP has been adopted for use in IP routers and Optical Transport Network (OTN) platforms aimed at enterprise and metro networks. JDSU was first to market with a tunable XFP, claiming it secured the company an almost two-year lead in the marketplace. “We are aiming to repeat that with the SFP+,” said Collings.
Using an SFP+ doubles a line card’s interface density compared to the XFP module. The SFP+ supports both 10Gbps client-side and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) interfaces. “Most of the cards have transitioned from supporting the XFP to the SFP+,” said Collings. “This [having a tunable SFP+] completes that portfolio of capability.”
JDSU says it is working with several leading customers regarding the tunable SFP+. “They typically have a preference on chirp or no-chirp [lasers], APD [avalanche photo-diode] or no APD, that sort of thing,” Collings explained.
The company plans a two-stage rollout. JDSU will launch a slightly higher power-consuming tunable SFP+ “a handful of months” before the standard-compliant device. “The SFP+ standard calls for 1.5W but for some customers that want to hit the market earlier, we can discuss other options,” said Collings.
By Roy Rubenstein
See Also:
Press release: JDSU to highlight Key Fiber Optic and 100G Technology at ECOC 2012
