The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) announced its intent to specify a framework for Flex Coherent DWDM Transmission in long haul, metro, and data center inter-connections. The idea is to enable the following flexible transceiver attributes: modulation formats, symbol rates, and number of subcarriers.
Flex Coherent DWDM will outline a software-defined optics ecosystem that initially leverages past and current OIF projects for tunable lasers, high bandwidth PMQ modulated transmitters and integrated coherent receivers. The Flex Coherent DWDM Transmission will start with the following modulation formats suitable for different scenarios; QPSK, 8QAM, 16QAM for long haul and metro applications and 32QAM, 64QAM for data center inter-connection applications.
The framework will build upon work the OIF completed for 100G LH DWDM and provide guidance for 400G.
“We’ve discussed the hardware implications of SDN for a couple years now,” said Junjie Li, of China Telecom and OIF board member. “We need to move away from fixed performance transceivers in order to provide Service Providers with a flexible solution, complete with software “knobs” that can be dialed-in to achieve the desired performance.”
The OIF also announced the results of its recent leadership elections, welcoming Peter Landon, BTI Systems as the chair of the Networking & Operations Working Group committee for 2-year term. Newly elected to the Board of Directors are Ian Betty, of Ciena for a 2-year term, Tom Issenhuth of Microsoft for a 2-year term and Mike Tessaro of Qorvo for a 1-year term. Junjie Li of China Telecom was re-elected to the board for a 1-year term. John McDonough of NEC America will serve as president. Dave Brown of Alcatel-Lucent continues to serve as VP of Marketing and Dave Stauffer of Kandou Bus continues to serve as secretary/treasurer.
