Optical Modules and Components

In 2006, CIR released reports on optical components, optical modules, and 40 Gbps. Optical Component Markets discussed where the key opportunities for optical networking component makers will be found in the next few years. It focused on the components that would be needed in the latest high speed networks and on important technology directions of optical integration, high-speed laser modulation, tunable components, and dispersion control. Transmission Modules 10 Gbps and Below analyzed and forecasted the markets for transceivers, transponders, and related products operating at 10 Gbps down to the lowest SONET/SDH/WDM and Fibre Channel rates and discusses how the leading firms were planning their product and marketing strategies. The report examined how developments in technology, such as optical integration, electronic data compression, and new types of media were changing conventional module products. The Transition to 40 Gbps analyzed and quantified emerging opportunities for 40 Gbps networking components and modules. The report examined the transition to 40G products including lasers, detectors, TOSAs, ROSAs, amplifiers, modulators, dispersion compensation, and electronics.

Optical networking is a method of communication that involves transmitting information as light pulses along a fiber-optic cable. This method of communication is known for its high bandwidth capacity, enabling it to carry large amounts of data over long distances. Here are some of the key components and standards involved in optical networking:

1. Optical Fibers: These are thin strands of glass or plastic that guide light along their length. They are the physical medium through which data is transmitted in an optical network.
2. Transceivers: These devices are used to convert the electrical signals (used in the devices at the endpoints of the network) into optical signals that can be transmitted along the fiber, and vice versa.
3. Optical Amplifiers: Because the signal attenuates (loses power) as it travels along the fiber, optical amplifiers are used to boost the signal strength without needing to convert it back to an electrical signal.
4. Optical Switches: These are used to manage and direct the traffic in the network. They are capable of switching the optical signals from one circuit to another.
5. Multiplexers and Demultiplexers: These are used to combine (multiplex) and separate (demultiplex) different signals on a single fiber. Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) is a technique often used in optical networks that can carry many separate channels on a single fiber.
6. Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) and Optical Network Units (ONUs): These are equipment used in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or similar last-mile fiber optic connections.

As for standards, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has established a set of recommendations known as the G-series that outline the technical standards for optical networks. Some of these include:

• G.652 which specifies the characteristics for single-mode optical fiber and cable.
• G.653 which addresses dispersion-shifted single-mode optical fiber and cable.
• G.655* which covers non-zero dispersion-shifted single-mode optical fiber and cable.
• G.707 and its related series, which define the network node interface for the synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH).

Moreover, there are several protocols designed for optical networks such as the Optical Transport Network (OTN) protocol which is designed to support optical networking over the DWDM infrastructure.

Standards for Ethernet services over optical networks have been defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

Overall, optical networking offers high-speed, high-capacity communication and has become the backbone of the world's communication infrastructure. Its components and standards work together to ensure reliable, efficient transmission of data over long distances.