Choosing the right optical modules for your network | Open Dialogue

Since GenAI burst onto the market in 2023, a majority of businesses across the board have come to rely on AI and cloud services. This puts renewed pressure on CIPs, data centers, and CSPs.

Preparing your network for the demands of AI & cloud

Networks must enable widespread digital transformation with greater network speed, capacity and flexibility. With new-generation optical modules available this year, network operators have multiple supplier options to consider for upgrades.

I’m Dashella Taylor, Director of Product Line Management in Fujitsu’s Network Optical Business Unit. Let’s start an open dialogue about choosing optical modules to equip your network for the demands of AI and cloud.

What we call “optical modules” fall into two categories. There’s the more traditional embedded optical transponder or muxponder blades, and the newer, much smaller, coherent optical pluggables.

800G ZR/ZR+ coherent pluggables

Our focus today is on pluggables. These pluggables are a commodity, with little differentiation from one supplier to another, at least in terms of features, performance, and unit pricing.

800G ZR and ZR+ coherent pluggables are the latest addition to the optical networking market.

800G Pluggable DSP density

A key characteristic of the new 800G coherent pluggables is the DSP density. Optical suppliers are offering DSP densities from five nanometer down to three nanometer, and with three nanometer offering the lowest power and cost per bit.

Ways to compare pluggables from different suppliers

Without clear feature or price differentiation among the pluggables on the market, choosing a supplier means comparing and contrasting other aspects. One example is the supply chain.

Pluggable supply chain resiliency

Supply chain resiliency is critical to keep deployments running smoothly and on-budget. Some suppliers are more resilient than others, depending on a few key factors.

There’s the location. Different manufacturing locations have different risk factors, including geopolitical relationships and stability, workforce quality, and environmental risks.

Component quality merits careful consideration, especially given the costs and consequences of service disruption.

The level of manufacturing automation also affects overall supply-chain reliability. Highly automated manufacturing is fast, predictable, and consistent in comparison to less automated manufacturing. Automation also reduces risk from labor disruption.

These three factors have the biggest effect on a supplier’s dependability. Other aspects can also differentiate optical suppliers more clearly.

Other pluggable comparison factors

Be sure to consider:

• How the solution helps cut costs, for example by using less power
• Whether it interoperates with current transponders or routers
• The level of vertical integration
• How flexible the solution is
• Solution integration options for customization and deployment
• Any effects on time-to-market
• Network management and control options
• Open standards and multivendor support

1FINITY P-series 800G ZT/ZR+ coherent pluggables

Fujitsu’s 1FINITY P-Series 800G ZR and ZR+ coherent pluggables are the latest addition to the 1FINITY Ultra Optical System. They’ll be available later in 2025, with 1.6TB units following in 2026.

We manufacture our 800G coherent pluggables in Japan, in alignment with our commitment to supply-chain resiliency. The high level of manufacturing automation and the availability of high-quality precision components are significant advantages.