Vendors collaborate to simplify 5G mobile pluggables

Technologies and Products

Nokia, Ericsson, II-VI, Lumentum and Sumitomo Electric have jointly published a technical paper which recommends predefined optical blueprints for Mobile Optical Pluggables (MOPA) which connect cell sites to fibre networks. The companies say that streamlining the US$500 million MOPA eco-system will help industry focus on most relevant solutions and facilitate 5G rollouts.

The first-time joint industry initiative lays out a set of Mobile Optical Blueprints which describe the most optimised solutions of optical pluggables and passive optical components. Recommendations include optical characteristics such as data rates, reach, power, wavelengths as well as mechanical characteristics such as form factor, heat dissipation and operational temperature.

Ian Redpath, Practice Leader, Transport Networks and Components at Omdia said, “In a 5G world, optical pluggables will be utilised to connect cell sites to the network core. Network operators are currently challenged with assessing many pluggable variations, increasing their qualification work load and slowing time to deploy. MOPA will streamline efforts for the connectivity community, enabling cost reductions and reducing time to deploy.”

Stefaan Vanhastel, CTO Nokia Fixed Networks said, “Fibre is a critical component of 5G rollouts and provides unmatched capacity for 5G transport. A clear overview of available optics strategies makes it easier to design and deploy 5G networks. We are pleased to be joining forces with Ericsson, II-VI, Lumentum and Sumitomo Electric on this vital initiative which will make the choice for fibre even more compelling in the transport domain.”

“As high-capacity and cost-effective optical solutions are critical to 5G and next-generation mobile networks, we are excited to participate in defining industry requirements which will both help the industry advance and increase the market opportunities for our highly differentiated full-band tuneable pluggable transceiver platform,” said Justin Abbott, Lumentum’s director of Product Line Management, Transmission. “Lumentum has a long history of innovation in high-speed full-band tuneable pluggable transceivers, pioneering the category more than a decade ago. We are well-positioned to meet customer needs in 5G and next-generation mobile networks.”

The companies say that driven by the broad global 5G buildouts, MOPA aims to accomplish a common view and understanding in the industry regarding which optical solutions are required for 5G transport, such as fronthaul and backhaul. This serves to improve the current challenge for operators, system vendors, and optical pluggable suppliers to make the right technology choices and focus on the most relevant needs. MOPA benefits the ecosystem to ensure timely, cost-efficient, and optimised architectures.

For more information, visit www.lumentum.com/en/MOPA