The 40Gbps QSFP+ builds on the legacy of hot-pluggable optical modules. Previously 2.5Gbps and 10Gbps single channel devices (SFP, SFP+, XFP, Xenpak) were the work-horse in metro and edge networking applications (including routers and data centers).
As bandwidth increases drove line speeds beyond 10Gbps, new approaches that leveraged parallelism in optical modules emerged. Combining 4 lanes of 10Gbps traffic in the QSFP+ was the first step in this integration story. The QSFP+ 40Gbsp module is replacing single channel variants like the SFP, SFP+ and XFP.
The form factor has many advantages, including high data rate (40Gbps), very small form-factors (< 4 SFP+’s), and low power consumption. Applications in metro, at the edge of the network, the data center, and in router interconnect are becoming ubiquitous.
Kaiam PLC-based parts find applications in both the well established and also growing segments of the telecom and datacom markets. In the telecom market the high channel count (80/88/96) Mux/Demux modules are used in long haul applications (i.e. between cities), and the lower channel count (40/44/48) modules are used in metro networks (i.e. around cities). There is also a growing market for use of PLC devices in fibre-based access networks (i.e. connecting to the subscriber) for both fixed and wireless systems.
In the datacom world, there is a huge growth opportunity for PLC-based parts in support of 40GbE and 100GbE modules for data center interconnects.
