NeoPhotonics Corporation announced sample availability for its Open ZR+ QSFP-DD transceivers. Based on NeoPhotonics' world-class optical components, ultra-low noise tunable lasers and proven 400ZR design, the Open ZR+ version of the QSFP-DD uses the Marvell® Deneb™ Coherent DSP (CDSP) to incorporate industry-standard Open Forward Error Correction (OFEC). NeoPhotonics is a contributor to the Open ZR+ Multi-Source Agreement (MSA), which defines interoperability specifications for OpenZR+.

By using OFEC, the rOSNR capability of NeoPhotonics transceivers is improved beyond traditional 400ZR CFEC, allowing for multiple span coverage in amplified networks. This may be applied to metro and IP-over-DWDM networks with extended-reach scenarios, with data rate coverage from 100Gb/s to 400Gb/s. In addition, there are a number of applications where the fiber reach may not exceed the OIF ZR specifications, but because of older fiber, patch panels and other impairments, the link loss and impairment budgets could exceed that of a standard 400ZR link. In these cases, NeoPhotonics' OpenZR+ module can be used for 400G upgrades, where standard solutions are not practical.

More background information on coherent communications in pluggable modules can be found in a series of “Trends and Technology” presentations on the NeoPhotonics website.