Application of C-LIGHT optical module in OTN network

Posted on：September 2, 2024 by C-LIGHT

Optical Transport Network (OTN) is a network architecture based on optical fiber transmission technology for optical signal modulation, wavelength conversion, multiplexing, amplification, protocol conversion, ranging, monitoring, redundancy backup and other processing, which is used to provide high capacity, low latency, long distance and reliable data transmission. With the continuous upgrading of its functions and the prominent cost advantage of operators' collective acquisition, OTN data communication has been widely used in the fields of metropolitan area network access, 5G wireless communication access, data center interconnection, enterprise network access, OLT network access, etc.

Several features related to the use of optical modules in OTN network applications:

●The optical signal wavelength, intensity, need to be modulated

Optical bands O-Band, C-Band, CWDM, gray light, which are commonly used in OTN.

●Various optical communication protocols need to be supported by optical modules.

Common protocols include 10GBase/100GBase/400GBase、OTU2/OTU4、STM64、eCPRI.

●Continuous upgrade demand for high-bandwidth optical modules

For example, QSFP28 is upgraded to QSFP112 and SFP28 is upgraded to SFP56

●The optical module shall support DDM monitoring information collection and feedback

Some optical modules need to support adjustable wavelength and adjustable optical power

Figure 1 a typical flat OTN network application architecture

Technical benefits of C-LIGHT optical modules for OTN applications

The product supports high speed and complete varieties. The product supports large protocol span 10GBase, 40GBase, 100GBase, 400GBase, OTU2 \OTU3 \ OTU4, STM-16 \ STM-64 \ STM-128, eCPRI.

There are many products with different transmission distances. For example, there are 100m short distance optical modules used by multimode optical fibers and 2 ~ 10 km gray optical modules. There are DWDM CWDM 40km 80km medium and long distance optical modules and DWDM 120km long distance optical modules. There are 300km, 500km and 1000km ultra-long distance coherent optical modules.

More choices for wavelength applications. For example, C-Band DWDM tunable wavelength and O-Band DWDM fixed wavelength can produce single-fiber bidirectional BiDi products with customized wavelength combinations. Gray light wavelength, etc

It supports the transmission of "white light" without carrying signals, so as to facilitate the installation and commissioning of some specific OTN.

There are more advantageous technologies. For example, most products support CDR function, and some products use the most advanced PAM technology.

The cost advantage is obvious. In terms of core driver chip and laser design selection, C-Light adopts both foreign and domestic chip schemes to design and produce at the same time. It provides more business choices for different customers.

Strong compatibility and versatility. After 15 years of development, C-LIGHT has obvious advantages in compatibility verification with major switching equipment around the world.

Table 1 Some examples of C-LIGHT WDM optical modules

MUX/DeMUX Passive System Optical Fiber inspection

Side Mode Suppression Ratio SMSR		High temperature eye diagram test