100G technology

Enabling the transport of high-speed Ethernet over optical networks is now a reality—thanks to Ciena. True single wavelength 100G vastly expands capacity without disrupting existing networks. That’s game-changing.

Summary:
• Demand for high-bandwidth services driving need for 100G
• Several groups working toward 100G standardization
• 100G can be phased in alongside 10G and 40G networks without re-engineering
• Ciena and Caltech demonstrate first true, single wavelength transmission of a 100G data stream

Update: 05/05/2009 - NYSE Euronext and Ciena partner on the first 100G network (press release)

Why 100G?
The networking landscape is shifting toward Ethernet-based infrastructures as demand for high-bandwidth services increases. As these demands increase exponentially, the current generation of 10 Gb/s networking will be rendered insufficient. Therefore, the industry is working to standardize 100G technologies to take advantage of greater scalability and a more efficient convergence of optical data rates.

Standards
In July 2006, in response to the communications industry’s need for increased bandwidth, the IEEE 802.3 Working Group created a High Speed Study Group (HSSG) to examine the need for next-generation bandwidth connectivity. In July 2007, the group approved a request for a Media Access Control rate of 100GbE for switch-to-switch applications, including point-to-point links between campuses. In December 2007, the P802.3ba task force was formed to commence development of the standard, with a 2010 target completion date for the IEEE 802.3 40 and 100GbE standards.

In March 2007, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Study Group 15 (SG 15) approved extending the G.709 OTN standard to the next higher rate beyond the current 43 Gb/s, defined as an OTU-4. Proposals have been submitted for a 3 x ODU-3 at approximately 130 Gb/s, as well as a rate optimized for transporting 100GbE—approximately 112 Gb/s.

Transport requirements
To accommodate the low-revenue-per-bit data required by IP networks, networks must support 100 Gb/s high-speed connectivity to 100GbE communities at a very low cost. Network operators cannot afford to build new overlay networks, and are adopting a phased approach to add 100 Gb/s capacity seamlessly to networks, without re-engineering the network.

Ramping up to 100G

In July 2008, the OIF created two new projects to specify additional aspects of this implementation direction. A photonic integration project will specify both transmitter and receiver photonic modules for incorporation into 100G DWDM transceivers. Integrating many photonic components into a small number of modules will be critical to reduce the cost, size, and power dissipation of a 100G transceiver.

Leadership
Ciena applies its industry-leading expertise in 100GbE and 100 Gb/s transport to high-bandwidth networking. A charter member of the OIF Implementation Agreement project for 100G, Ciena is developing transport solutions for 100 Gb/s networking and participates actively in the IEEE 802.3 committee for 100GbE and the ITU SG 15 for 100 Gb/s transport standards.

Ciena is committed to ensuring seamless in-service 100 Gb/s upgrades of existing networks to protect customer investments in current infrastructure and improve network capacity, using engineering rules similar to those employed in 10 Gb/s DWDM systems. All Ciena systems are designed to be scalable to 100 Gb/s, ensuring the systems will be capable of supporting ongoing, in-service bandwidth increases cost-effectively.

In November 2008, Ciena achieved a significant milestone in innovation with the successful demonstration of the industry’s first true, single wavelength 100G optical transmission during the Supercomputing Conference 2008. Driven by Ciena’s expertise in optical technologies and the California Institute of Technology’s (Caltech) commitment to the advancement of high-performance distributed computing methods, the live demonstration enabled 100 Gb/s connectivity between computer clusters using a single wavelength.

Unlike previous 100G tests that combined two 40G optical signals or inversely multiplexed ten 10G optical signals, the demonstration by Ciena and Caltech offered the first true, single wavelength transmission of a 100G data stream, through 80 km of fiber.