At OFC 2025, members of the Open ROADM Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) demonstrated the first multi-vendor 800G pluggable ROADM link and a fully interoperable optical transport network reaching data rates up to 1.2Tbps. The showcase, hosted at booth #5128 in partnership with OpenLab @ UT Dallas, featured equipment from Anritsu, AT&T, Ciena, Fujitsu, NEC, NTT, and Orange. The demonstration validated a wide range of real-world IP-over-WDM use cases—including QSFP-DD-based coherent optics, hierarchical SDN control, and alien wavelength services—using Open ROADM-compliant components.
The demonstration network included a mix of ROADM nodes, muxponders, OTN switches, transponders, and regenerators, spanning Open ROADM versions 2.2.1, 7.1, and 12.0. It featured end-to-end service creation with 400G and 800G pluggable optics, including CFP2-DCO and QSFP-DD modules, using Probabilistic Constellation Shaping (PCS) for enhanced performance. OpenDaylight’s TPCE controller and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software enabled dynamic provisioning and cross-vendor orchestration. In addition, multiple alien wavelength services were routed across the system from IOWN and OIF booths, including ZR+ 400G and 800G signals and 1.2T muxponders over 150GHz channels.
This interoperability showcase underscores the growing readiness of disaggregated optical networks to support high-speed, multi-vendor deployments across next-gen transport layers. Live use cases included real-time IP-over-WDM with coherent QSFP-DD optics integrated into routers and Ethernet testers, and the dynamic migration of a 5G gNB-CU-UP container between geo-diverse compute sites using OpenROADM switchponders.
• First public demonstration of interoperable 800G ROADM link using CFP2-DCO and QSFP-DD optics.
• Multi-vendor transport network supports Open ROADM versions 2.2.1, 7.1, and 12.0.
• OpenConfig and TPCE-enabled hierarchical SDN control used for tunnel provisioning and telemetry.
• IP-over-WDM demonstrations included QSFP-DD in routers, TIP hardware, and 400G ZR+ services.
• Alien wavelengths routed across 75GHz and 150GHz Open ROADM tunnels using coherent signaling.
• Live demo included dynamic 5G gNB container migration between geo-diverse sites.
“The Open ROADM demonstration at OFC 2025 highlights how open, disaggregated networks can scale to 800G and beyond, with full interoperability between suppliers and alignment with real-world cloud, IP, and transport convergence requirements.”
About Open ROADM MSA:
The Open ROADM Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) was established in 2016, spearheaded by AT&T, to standardize the interoperability of optical transport network elements, including Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (ROADMs), transponders, and pluggable optics, from multiple vendors. The MSA defines common hardware and software specifications, including YANG data models and open APIs, to support disaggregated, software-controlled optical networks. Key members and contributors to the MSA include AT&T, Ciena, Fujitsu, NEC, Nokia, Orange, Anritsu, NTT, and various academic and testing institutions like OpenLab at the University of Texas at Dallas. The Open ROADM architecture enables multi-vendor interoperability, dynamic provisioning, and cost-effective scalability in optical transport networks, especially for hyperscale and carrier environments.
What is a ROADM?
A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) is an optical network device used in Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) systems that allows for dynamic, remote configuration of individual optical wavelengths (channels) without converting them to electrical signals. Unlike traditional fixed optical add/drop multiplexers, ROADMs enable the flexible rerouting, adding, or dropping of wavelengths at intermediate network nodes—crucial for agile and scalable optical transport networks. They are a core component in modern metro and long-haul networks, supporting automation, resilience, and efficient use of fiber infrastructure.
