ClariPhy Communications and Cortina Systems announced that they have achieved interoperability between ClariPhy’s CL4010, 40G single chip coherent transceiver and Cortina’s CS604x and CS600x, 40G/10G Optical Transport Network (OTN) Processor families with strong Forward Error Correction support.

Service providers worldwide are focused on rolling out network capacity upgrades to address explosive bandwidth demands driven by the widespread adoption of smart phones, surge in IPTV deployments and emerging cloud computing applications. Service providers want to leverage DSP driven coherent technology in optical transport networks to increase reach and performance against noise impairments at 40G and higher line rates. ClariPhy is the first semiconductor vendor to deliver single chip SoCs targeting 40G coherent optical networks.

Cortina is a leading supplier of OTN technology. Cortina’s transport products are designed in at major tier 1 and 2 OEMs and deployed in Carrier networks worldwide. The CS600x and CS604x families of 40G/10G Optical Transport Network (OTN) Processors support the latest OTN standards and are designed for transport and aggregation of data, voice, and video over 10G, 40G, and 100G signals. The CS60xx family has been in production since 2009.

OEMs targeting volume deployments of 40G coherent networks can leverage compatibility between ClariPhy’s CL4010 and Cortina’s widely deployed 40G Strong Forward Error Correction algorithm, supported by its two generations of OTN processors, to shorten development cycles and enable faster time-to-market. Service providers can now accelerate deployment of coherent optical networks by leveraging proven 40G Strong FEC technology from Cortina over 40G coherent networks enabled by ClariPhy’s CL4010 to enhance optical reach performance and tolerance to noise impairments.

"Coherent technology will become the dominant transmission technique for long haul WDM over the next 5 years, with large carriers and major OEM’s leading the way. When combined with ROADM based networking, coherent transmission has large cost/bit/km advantages over traditional techniques," said Andrew Schmitt, Directing Analyst, Optical at Infonetics Research. “Off the shelf SoC and ASSP solutions are important in order to bring Coherent technology to a wider base of equipment suppliers.”

"As a leading supplier of OTN processors in the 10/40G/100G markets, we welcome the opportunity to create an interoperable solution with ClariPhy for the 40G coherent market," said Arun Zarabi, Vice President, Infrastructure Business Unit, Cortina. "The interoperability of Cortina's OTN and Strong FEC technology with ClariPhy 40G Coherent SoC, enables faster time to market solution for OEMs and system vendors."

“Our work with Cortina lays the foundation for a compatible ecosystem to accelerate deployment of 40G optical coherent networks by leveraging deployed UFEC technology from Cortina and the industry’s first single chip 40G coherent SoC from ClariPhy,” said Reza Norouzian, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at ClariPhy Communications. “This partnership will also align our roadmaps and accelerate compatibility for next generation SoCs targeting 100G and beyond coherent optical networks.”

“The demonstrated interoperability is a significant benefit to network equipment manufacturers,” says Terry Unter, president and general manager of Optical Networks Solutions at Oclaro.” It ensures integration of critical features, such as mapping and multiplexing of a wide range of protocols, while leveraging MSA-compliant merchant 40G coherent transponder modules for the best performance and lowest cost. This solution, which is supported by Oclaro’s 40G coherent transponder module, will enable coherent WDM systems to serve an even greater application space because of the integration of strong FEC for longer distances and more challenging fiber plants.”