Leading optical chip and module manufacturers announce new pluggable transceiver module multi-source

FREMONT, USA: Mitsubishi Electric Corp., OKI Semiconductor Co. Ltd, Opnext Inc., Renesas Electronics Corp. and Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd, announced a transmitter optical sub-assembly (TOSA) and receiver optical sub-assembly (ROSA) Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) for 40 Gbps pluggable transceiver modules. This initiative was established to meet increased demand for pluggable 40 Gbps serial modules, similar to the CFP MSA.

In an upcoming MSA meeting, the member companies will specify the common mechanical dimensions, footprint, pin functions and performance of the optical transmitter and receiver devices. The TOSA/ROSA MSA specifies key features including a low-profile and compact fit for pluggable modules and simple electrical interfaces that provide cost effective solutions.

The transmission speed of 40 Gbps is the highest modulation speed, commercially-available, that uses the simple light on/off keying or serial transmission scheme. 300-pin MSA transceivers using 1550 nm light source devices are widely available for the 2 km application. Recently, 40 Gbps serial transmission over 10 km was demonstrated using 1310 nm light source devices.

In addition to ITU-T 40Gbps serial transmission standards: VSR2000-3R2 for 2 km and P1I1-3D1 for 10 km, the IEEE has recently defined a 40 Gbps serial interface for 2 km (40GBASE-FR). The demand for 40Gbps serial transmissions is growing in telecom, data and IP communication applications.

In today’s 300-pin MSA transceiver module market, XLMD MSA TOSAs and ROSAs are widely adopted. Following the release of the CFP MSA, 40 Gbps pluggable transceiver modules are now required to offer easy handling and maintenance. New low profile, compact TOSAs and ROSAs are essential components for future downsized pluggable transceiver modules.

“The TOSA/ROSA agreement will leverage the 40 Gbps market to achieve compact, low-power-consumption pluggable modules, which will provide advanced 40 Gbps serial solutions to high capacity network and storage systems,” said an MSA Committee spokesperson. In the future, the MSA will continue to define specifications that consider future advanced technologies, such as 1310 nm light source devices and direct modulation lasers.

The new TOSA/ROSA MSA defines both the laser transmitter devices and the PIN Photodiode - Trans-impedance amplifier (PIN-TIA) receiver devices that comply with 40 Gbps interface standards. The MSA targets transmission modules for more than 10 km applications.