IEEE launches study to make 100 Gigabit optical ethernet cheaper, higher density

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) on Tuesday launched an exploratory committee that will look at functional upgrades to the 100 Gigabit profile in the optical ethernet standard 802.3ba-2010.

The group will look at 100Gb/s operation over a narrower and faster interface to enable the development and delivery of lower-cost, higher-density 100Gb/s solutions.

Still very early in its life, the 100 Gigabit optical ethernet standard was only ratified last year after more than two years of tests.

"As early adopters look to the initial deployment of systems supporting 100GbE to provide relief for congested networks, others are looking to the development of the next generation of electrical and optical signaling technologies that will enable reductions in 100GbE port cost and power, while simultaneously maximizing the usable port densities per system. These same technologies will also provide the building blocks for the next rate of Ethernet," John D'Ambrosia wrote in his commentary "100 Gigabit Ethernet and Beyond" earlier this year.

The latter what this IEEE study group is looking to do, and it will lay out a set of objectives for the Next Generation of 100GbE Optical Interfaces. The group's three primary areas of interest are: a 4x25G multi-mode fiber interface, a 4x25G electrical interface between module and system ICs, and a possible 4x25G single-mode fiber interface focused on reducing cost for longer reaches within data centers and campus backbones.

“The history of optical Ethernet standards has shown that as technology advances, the ability to reduce the number of data channels and thereby the cost, density, and power required to achieve a given speed will lead to greater market adoption. We believe that it’s time to move from a 10x10G interface to a 4x25G interface to achieve the advances the market needs to take 100G Ethernet to the next level,” says Dan Dove, Chairman of the IEEE 802.3 Next Generation 100 Gb/s Optical Ethernet study group and Senior Director of Technology at Applied Micro.

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