Windstream looks to trim size, cost from 400G pluggables with II-VI partnership

Windstream Wholesale has partnered with II-VI Incorporated, which provides engineered materials and optoelectronic components, to co-develop next-generation transceivers that the companies said will streamline deployment of 400 gigabit services while significantly reducing costs, power consumption and network complexity.

The partners are delivering what they claim is the first high-performance 0 dBm, 400G QSFP-DD coherent pluggable module, supporting transceiver compatibility with existing and emerging modern ROADM-based photonic layers supporting multi-service, multi-layer architectures. Research firm Dell’Oro Group noted earlier this year in a report update that demand for small form factor pluggables like QSFP-DD modules was likely to ramp up before the end of the year.

Drastically reducing the size and power demands of 400G pluggables relative to sled-based and even CFP2-based solutions should significantly increase transceiver density; reduce capex and opex by allowing for direct insertion of high-performance coherent optics into current 400G enabled routers, based on the smaller form factor; and open up a direct technical path for the further evolution for IP-over-DWDM with ROADM-based photonic layers, extending the application space beyond simple point-to-point data center interconnect networks.

“The entry of coherent 400 Gbps in a small form factor pluggable such as QSFP-DD opens the door for a change in architecture to IP-over-DWDM, and away from traditional optical transport systems,” Dell’Oro stated in its January 2021 report update.

“This game-changing partnership is a vital step toward making 400G wavelengths the default deployment service for large wholesale and hyperscale customers,” said Buddy Bayer, chief network officer at Windstream, in a statement. “II-VI’s high transmit power 0dBm 400G QSFP-DD DCO transceivers will enable Windstream to deploy greatly simplified network architectures, by optically connecting routers directly to access, metro, and regional transport networks without additional intermediary interfaces, eliminating an entire layer of optical equipment. This revolution in IP-over-DWDM network architecture achieves significant savings in upfront costs and ongoing expenses, affording Windstream a highly competitive operational model.”

RELATED: Windstream Wholesale sets 400 GbE record with Acacia pluggable modules

The partnership announcement comes after Windstream Wholesale has completed numerous trials of 400 Gigabit Ethernet connections, including a long-haul trial between Phoenix and Los Angeles earlier this year that used Acacia pluggable modules. The wholesale provider also has worked with Everstream on a commercial deployment, and with Infinera on a previous trial.

“Our partnership with Windstream will fast-track the development of a disruptive 400G transmission technology that builds on our award-winning integrated coherent transmitter and receiver optical subassembly, or IC-TROSA, which itself is based on our advanced and proprietary indium phosphide technology along with our industry leading opto-electronic integration platform,” said Matthias Berger, vice president, coherent technology, II-VI Incorporated, in a statement. “Indium phosphide is the intrinsic enabler of the 400G transceiver’s high 0 dBm output power yet with low enough power consumption to be uniquely suitable for QSFP-DD.”