800G slows down, 400G picks up, LPO volume key to standards
Optical modules are core components in optical communication systems, and their performance and cost directly affect the development of optical communications. With the increasing demand for high-speed, low-power and low-cost optical modules in 5G, data centres and other fields, the optical module industry is also facing new challenges and opportunities.
800G slowdown 400G rebound
According to Cambridge Technology, optical modules are currently in a period of adjustment, with 800G slowing down and 400G warming up. The reason is that the delay of 800G is mainly switch and chip delay, downstream manufacturers can not wait, back to 400G. 400G demand is more, the company's recent 400G production is running at full capacity, 400G is entirely dependent on the ability to get the chip and laser.
In this context, the price of 400G is unlikely to rise, but for the time being will not fall, now 400G is the supply is not over. 400G brings the opportunity to at least more than the first half of the whole industry will be very large volume.
LPO volume key in the standard
LPO is a DSP-free optical module programme, with low power consumption, low cost, low latency and other advantages, is one of the future development trend of optical modules. Since this year, LPO has been discussed continuously, Cambridge Technology, as one of the active participants, said that LPO is not a difficult task, but it is necessary to work closely with switch manufacturers to do a good job of co-ordination.
The main problem at present is that switch manufacturers are more inclined to change as little as possible in the switch, by the optical module needs to adapt to the different situations between its various pathways. But optical module manufacturers expect switch manufacturers to do some adjustment between the channels, so that for the optical module, the relative cost of all aspects are lower, easier
For the standard to establish the point in time depends on what the optical module, is the need for greater bandwidth of silicon and better drivers, or that the switch manufacturers to adjust the need to form a consensus. However, from a technical point of view, LPO does not have any problems. According to Cambridge Technology and switch manufacturers repeated test results, in a specific range of use, in terms of performance and DSP's there is not much difference, power consumption will be much better, the key is switch manufacturers to cooperate.
Silicon is the future direction of optical modules
Market several 800G major customers are more inclined to accept silicon-optical, 400G is traditional is also OK, silicon-optical is also OK. 400G does not necessarily have to be silicon-optical, but the 800G traditional programme has been compared to the silicon-optical, if you want to continue to be compatible with the LPO, the silicon-optical is more important.
Currently, the 800G products of Silicon Optical are entering small batch shipments, and there are other Silicon Optical products under test, and Silicon Optical for 800G LPO is also under test. Silicon optical is the future development direction of optical modules, the company will continue to increase the R & D investment in silicon optical.
Silicon optical is a technology that uses silicon-based materials to achieve optoelectronic integration, which can integrate optical and electronic devices on the same chip to achieve high integration, high performance and low power consumption of optical modules. Silicon optical technology has good compatibility and scalability, and can be combined with existing semiconductor processes to achieve mass production and cost reduction.
Optical modules are core components in optical communication systems, and their performance and cost directly affect the development of optical communications. With the increasing demand for high-speed, low-power and low-cost optical modules in 5G, data centres and other fields, the optical module industry is also facing new challenges and opportunities.
800G slowdown 400G rebound
According to Cambridge Technology, optical modules are currently in a period of adjustment, with 800G slowing down and 400G warming up. The reason is that the delay of 800G is mainly switch and chip delay, downstream manufacturers can not wait, back to 400G. 400G demand is more, the company's recent 400G production is running at full capacity, 400G is entirely dependent on the ability to get the chip and laser.
In this context, the price of 400G is unlikely to rise, but for the time being will not fall, now 400G is the supply is not over. 400G brings the opportunity to at least more than the first half of the whole industry will be very large volume.
LPO volume key in the standard
LPO is a DSP-free optical module programme, with low power consumption, low cost, low latency and other advantages, is one of the future development trend of optical modules. Since this year, LPO has been discussed continuously, Cambridge Technology, as one of the active participants, said that LPO is not a difficult task, but it is necessary to work closely with switch manufacturers to do a good job of co-ordination.
The main problem at present is that switch manufacturers are more inclined to change as little as possible in the switch, by the optical module needs to adapt to the different situations between its various pathways. But optical module manufacturers expect switch manufacturers to do some adjustment between the channels, so that for the optical module, the relative cost of all aspects are lower, easier
For the standard to establish the point in time depends on what the optical module, is the need for greater bandwidth of silicon and better drivers, or that the switch manufacturers to adjust the need to form a consensus. However, from a technical point of view, LPO does not have any problems. According to Cambridge Technology and switch manufacturers repeated test results, in a specific range of use, in terms of performance and DSP's there is not much difference, power consumption will be much better, the key is switch manufacturers to cooperate.
Silicon is the future direction of optical modules
Market several 800G major customers are more inclined to accept silicon-optical, 400G is traditional is also OK, silicon-optical is also OK. 400G does not necessarily have to be silicon-optical, but the 800G traditional programme has been compared to the silicon-optical, if you want to continue to be compatible with the LPO, the silicon-optical is more important.
Currently, the 800G products of Silicon Optical are entering small batch shipments, and there are other Silicon Optical products under test, and Silicon Optical for 800G LPO is also under test. Silicon optical is the future development direction of optical modules, the company will continue to increase the R & D investment in silicon optical.
Silicon optical is a technology that uses silicon-based materials to achieve optoelectronic integration, which can integrate optical and electronic devices on the same chip to achieve high integration, high performance and low power consumption of optical modules. Silicon optical technology has good compatibility and scalability, and can be combined with existing semiconductor processes to achieve mass production and cost reduction.