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400G Everywhere Using the latest generation of coherent optics to build application-optimized IP-optical networks
THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Introduction
The 400G era has begun. It’s breaking down barriers,
radically changing economics and redefining the way IP
and optical networks are designed, deployed and delivered.
Nokia is leading the way with an unrivalled portfolio of 400G transport solutions
that let you create application-optimized IP-optical transport networks your way.
These solutions put our game-changing optical technology in your hands and put
your IP and optical networks on the same wavelength.
This ebook offers insights that will enhance your understanding of how advances
in 400G transport will support the next generation of IP services at 400 Gigabit
Ethernet. It also explains how you can implement efficient IP-optical solutions
for every application that runs on your network – from the metro edge to subsea
communications. Read on to find out how you can benefit from extending
400G everywhere.
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2 © Nokia 2021
THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
The dawn of the 400G era
The 400G era promises to unleash a new wave of network innovation.
Pluggable coherent transceivers will bring IP and optical together at last,
while the latest generation of coherent digital signal processors enables
high-performance 400G transmission over any distance.
A new universal currency for IP-optical convergence
We often speak about exploding traffic growth in terms of annual percentages. Driven by the world’s
insatiable appetite for on-demand content and cloud applications, traffic demand grows continuously,
exponentially and, as we learned in 2020, sometimes unexpectedly. But the underlying “speeds and
feeds” at which network equipment connects and operates grow predictably, even slowly. The data-
carrying capacity, or speed, of router and switch ports is gated by the development, standardization
and commercialization of Ethernet — Gigabit Ethernet in 1998, 10 Gigabit Ethernet in 2002, 100
Gigabit Ethernet in 2010 and now 400 Gigabit Ethernet (400GE).
Each new rate becomes the currency of high-speed network connectivity and services for a
generation, and its adoption is the catalyst for a new network investment cycle. Fed by silicon
advances that have enabled massive increases in switching capacity, routers must also move this data
into and out of their switch fabric and connect to one another at high speeds and over distance. By
combining a fourfold increase in port bandwidth with advances in coherent electro-optics, 400GE
promises to unleash a new wave of network innovation that will transform the way IP-optical networks
are built and operated. It’s therefore no surprise that a new era of IP-optical integration is poised to
emerge alongside the wide adoption of a new Ethernet rate.
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THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Digital coherent optics and IP-optical integration
We’ve seen these transitions before. Multiple generations of with the new 400GE rate’s expanding adoption and create the
Ethernet have come and gone, accompanied by matching optical potential to integrate the two worlds in the purest of manners – IP,
wavelength rates, without a major shift toward integrated IP-optical wrapped in Ethernet, launched straight from a router port over an
network architectures. One significant obstacle to such integration optical wavelength through a pluggable digital coherent optic, or DCO.
has been the elevated space and power footprint needed to
A pluggable DCO’s most important attribute is that it can be hosted
implement high-speed wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)
directly in the router, which removes the space requirements, power
electro-optics. This has kept operators from using router-based,
consumption and expense of a separate optical transponder. By
pluggable WDM optical transceivers as they used packet switching
fitting within the dominant 400GE pluggable form factors, 400G
devices to migrate to new, faster Ethernet rates. As a result,
WDM DCOs enable routers to enjoy the same port density when
operators have continued to use discrete and dedicated optical
used for WDM transmission over long distances as they do for short
transponders for WDM transport of IP connections.
reach connectivity. It’s a perfect fit for the burgeoning application of
However, recent advances in electro-optics, particularly silicon data center interconnection, and it enables necessary scaling of
photonics, have bridged this gap by allowing coherent 400G WDM metro networks.
optics to fit within the space and power envelope of high-speed
router port form factors. For the first time, these advances coincide
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THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
400G everywhere (and anywhere)
The multiple variants of the latest generation of coherent optics
complement one another and are optimized around the economic
constraints that predominate within their target network
applications. The design trade-offs made by DCOs reflect the short
distances, constrained space and power, and plentiful fiber available
in metro areas. High-performance coherent optics maximize reach
and spectral efficiency where fiber is scarce and operations costly.
As they architect 400GE-based networks in the coming years,
network operators will achieve both lowest cost and highest
performance only by drawing from a diverse and complete coherent
product portfolio such as Nokia WaveFabric Elements.
The 400G era dawns with the alignment of these multiple
innovations and technologies. 400GE will trigger a router investment
cycle and spur demand for 400G wavelengths. Cost- and space-
efficient 400G pluggable coherent transceivers will finally enable the
physical integration of the IP and optical worlds, while the latest
generation of high-performance coherent technology powers 400G
transmission over any distance. This technological and temporal
convergence is unique in the history of IP and optical networks and
promises to make 400G the new universal network currency.
More to explore
Solution: Nokia WaveFabric
White paper: The 400GE inflection point
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THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
The economics of 400G
Operators are confronting the Economic Shannon The year 2010 also brought the introduction of two technology
milestones: 100GE and coherent optical technology. Since then,
Limit and looking for more ways to get value from continuous innovations in coherent technology have steadily
their optical networks. Investing in pluggable DCOs increased the capacity of optical transport systems while pushing
can help operators reduce cost and create exciting down the cost per bit transported. The result is that network
possibilities in the 400G era. operators have been able to accommodate the deluge of traffic
while maintaining an effectively flat level of capital spend. This slow
growth in CAPEX is critical to their ability to stay profitable in the
400G and the Economic Shannon Limit face of stagnant subscriber revenue. As we enter the 400G era, the
challenges for network operators are to continue to scale their
400G is poised to become the universal network currency for years networks, drive cost down and optimize transport around 400GE.
to come, but it’s instructive to look back. A decade ago the iPhone
was just taking off, and along with 4G mobile broadband it ushered But there’s a problem. The rapid gains in capacity and cost
in a new era of anytime, anywhere connectivity. In 2010 Netflix reduction enabled by successive generations of coherent optics are
launched its streaming service internationally, a key step on its way largely behind us. Cost per bit reduction has been driven in large
to over 200 million subscribers. So it’s no surprise that bandwidth part by improvements in the spectral efficiency of coherent
has continued to grow at roughly 30 percent per year. With the wavelengths. Shoving more bits into fewer interfaces and fewer
permanent changes in remote work and video conferencing we’re fibers lowers costs.
seeing as a result of COVID-19, this growth isn’t likely to slow down
any time soon.
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THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Exponential traffic growth + rapid cost per bit
reduction = slow CAPEX growth
The Economic Shannon Limit
Simply put, the Economic Shannon Limit means that further efforts
to maximize spectral efficiency are unlikely to generate a better
Cost per bit ~30% annual return on investment (lower costs for operators) than exploring
traffic growth
Slow growing CAPEX
alternative technological avenues that lower costs by other metrics.
Does our reckoning with the Shannon Limit mean that coherent
innovation will come to a stop? Certainly not. But it does mean that
Continual, rapid
the focus of investment and innovation will shift from squeezing
Traffic demands cost/bit reduction more spectral efficiency out of a fiber – or the related metric of
2010 2020 2010 2020 achieving higher wavelength rates — to technologies that optimize
power and space to better match coherent interfaces to specific
applications, as well as maximizing interface reach for workhorse
Yet spectral efficiency is famously bounded by the Shannon Limit.
speeds like 400G. And this is exactly what’s happening.
How close are we to this limit? Nobody knows for sure, but it is not
far away. There are undoubtedly still some gains to be had but Each new generation of coherent technology has raised baud rates
perhaps that’s not the question we should be asking. The more and lowered power per bit. Operation at higher baud rates
salient question might be this one: Does it make sense to continue increases the reach of a given wavelength rate. With spectral
to pursue gains in spectral efficiency, or would it be better to shift efficiency flatlining, this has become the primary benefit of new
the focus of coherent research and development toward other digital signal processor (DSP) generations. Lower power per bit is
methods of scale and cost containment? In other words, we may enabled by each new generations of silicon, which allows DSP
already have bumped up against what some call the Economic engineers to cram more sophisticated signal processing and higher
Shannon Limit. rates into the same power envelope.
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THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Pushing the traditional, performance-optimized envelope of front-end (OFE) components. With fifth-generation optics, this trend
coherent optics are fifth-generation DSPs operating at 90+ advances further to include the widespread adoption of pluggable
gigabaud. These high-performance coherent interfaces use the most 400G DCOs, where the DSP and optical front-end components are
sophisticated digital signal processing algorithms such as second- tightly integrated and packaged together into a discrete module.
generation probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS). and advanced
Pluggable DCOs packaged into standardized form factors such as
optics to achieve robust, 400G-optimized wavelength performance
QSFP-DD or CFP2 have the benefit of low power, small size and,
across long-haul, ultra-long-haul and subsea networks that span
most importantly, portability (or pluggability) into a wide range of
many thousands of kilometers. This has allowed 400G over any
platforms that utilize standardized input/output (I/O) ports,
distance, whereas two DSP generations ago, 400G wavelengths were
including routers, switches and optical transport systems.
limited to short metro spans of roughly 100 km or less. Nokia calls
this 400G Anywhere, and our PSE-V Super Coherent (PSE-Vs) DSP is But DCOs demand significant expertise, investment and coordination
uniquely optimized around these demanding applications. across multiple disciplines to meet performance requirements within
the strict power and space envelopes of standardized module form
Fifth-generation digital coherent optics factors. Future investment will concentrate on this tight integration
of electronics and optics – DSPs and silicon photonics. This is the
Advances in silicon can also be used to lower the absolute power of focus of Nokia’s WaveFabric Elements technology portfolio.
an interface from one coherent generation to the next. Both
improvements reduce cost per bit, but the latter has given rise to
smaller, more efficient pluggable coherent interfaces that are
optimized for IP-optical integration, and network operators are Evolution from discrete components to pluggable DCOs
already embracing them.
Nokia’s third- and fourth-generation DSPs featured a compact
DSP OFE DSP OFE DSP OFE
variant to complement high-performance super-coherent DSPs.
These compact variants allowed optimization for power- and cost-
sensitive applications that do not demand the highest spectral
efficiency. Despite their lower power, these compact optical Board- Board-mounted Board-mounted Pluggable DCO
interfaces relied on board-mounted DSPs, most recently leveraging mounted DSP DSP with DCO
and OFE pluggable ACO
pluggable analog coherent optics, or ACOs, to house the optical
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THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Operational benefits of pluggable DCOs These application-, power- and density-optimized pluggable DCOs
all have one thing in common – they are designed around 400G
for network operators transport. As 400G will soon become the common currency of IP
and optical networks, network operators will be able to choose
Pluggable DCOs offer numerous advantages to network operators,
among multiple interfaces to achieve the lowest cost per bit while
including:
simultaneously reaping the tremendous operational benefits that
• Pay-as-you-grow interfaces: Coherent optics represent a come with building an end-to-end 400G network across their IP and
significant portion of network spend. The ability to defer optical networks.
expenditures until demand arises helps network operators,
Pluggable DCOs aren’t just about cost reduction though. Their
particularly when deploying dense, multi-port line cards.
revolutionary power consumption, size and cost make possible
•
Optics upgradeability: Optical and IP platforms can take applications that were previously ruled out as uneconomical or that
advantage of improved performance, new features and were simply unfeasible because of power and space constraints.
possibly higher rates as DCOs rapidly mature throughout the
Sometimes reaching a limit opens up new possibilities. While we’ve
lifespan of the line card or platform that supports them.
yet to hit the physical Shannon Limit, diminishing technological
•
IP-optical coherent integration: As they are implemented into returns have forced us to confront the Economic Shannon Limit and
common router pluggable optics form factors, DCOs will usher to steer precious R&D resources in a different direction. But the
in a new era of IP-optical integration by eliminating the density goals are still the same – to continually lower cost per bit, and to
penalty previously associated with router-based optics. help network operators not just stay afloat but to innovate as they
transform their networks for the 400G era.
•
Multi-vendor optics: DCOs open up the possibility of
procuring coherent optics from vendors other than the
platform provider, although there are significant technological
and operational hurdles that must be overcome before this
becomes widely feasible. More to explore
Technology: PSE Super Coherent Technology
Ebook: Beyond the limit: Coherent solutions for the next decade
White paper: Nokia PSE-V coherent solutions beyond the limit
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9 © Nokia 2021
THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
IP routing for the 400GE era
Is your network ready for the transition to 400 Until recently, technology advances in coherent optics have focused
on improving transmission performance with increasingly
Gigabit Ethernet? A new generation of pluggable sophisticated DSP algorithms. Enormous progress has been made in
coherent optics can help you optimize IP-optical this area, with probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS), introduced by
network design. Nokia in 2018, taking capacity close to Shannon’s limit to enable
network operators extract maximum spectral efficiency from their
networks. So where to next?
Evolution of 400GE coherent optics Improving optical transmission performance remains important for
Relentless demand for more capacity at a lower cost per bit is forcing long-haul and subsea coherent transport applications, where fiber is
network providers to constantly rethink and reoptimize their network expensive and scarce. But a new, complementary innovation focus
designs. Besides delivering more capacity for consumer internet and has emerged, focused on improving the power, space and cost
ultra-high-definition (UHD) video streaming services, they must efficiency of coherent optics optimized for access, metro and
provide high availability and low latency for the mission-critical and regional reaches. The figure below shows the progress made in
massive machine-type communication services that the cloud and developing high-density optics, comparing progress in short-reach
5G will enable. Rapid advances in silicon are fueling a new generation client optics for routers with that for pluggable coherent optics.
of compact, pluggable coherent 400G optics that open exciting new Traditionally, there has been a sizable difference in the port
avenues for optimizing IP-optical network designs. densities of short-reach (gray) router optics and coherent line optics.
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10 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
The introduction of 400ZR and 400ZR+ pluggable transceivers Evolution of coherent optics
closes this gap and removes the I/O density penalty of using
coherent optics in the same router ports designed for short-reach 100.0
client optics. 400ZR/ZR+
Client
The compact QSFP56-DD form factor offers tremendous port Coherent QSFP56-DD
density but its power dissipation is nominally limited to 14.5 watts.
However, coherent WDM transceiver designs are now pushing this 10.0 QSFP28
up to 20 watts. This puts the onus on router engineering practices
for efficient airflow and cooling to enable unconstrained use of SFP28 CFP2
coherent pluggable optics across a range of features and
performance capabilities. SFP+
1.0
XFP
Mbps/mm3
MSA Gen2 CFP
MSA Gen1
SFP
0.1
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
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11 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
400GE transceiver options external amplification and support up to 64-channel WDM in the
C-band over a single span up to 120 km, with external amplification.
Network operators need a range of 400G transceiver options to Although 400ZR can be supported in various pluggable form factors,
optimally address the different capacity, cost, topology and reach QSFP-DD is the most prevalent implementation choice.
requirements in wide area networks. The table below lists the
In contrast, 400ZR+ is a related, non-standardized, extension of
various options and their key characteristics.
400ZR that targets higher optical performance. It allows for multi-
400ZR was one of the first efforts to standardize an interoperable span transport using flexible 100G–400G line rates and longer
400G coherent interface specification. Developed by the Optical reaches by leveraging multiple modulation types (16QAM, 8QAM and
Internetworking Forum (OIF) and released in March 2020, 400ZR is QPSK) and high-gain forward error correction (open FEC). In 400G
profile-optimized for high-density point-to-point access and data mode, 400ZR+ can reach up to 600 km, and even further using
center interconnect (DCI) applications. It can deliver a single 400 subrates. It can also traverse a limited number of reconfigurable
Gb/s channel up to 40 km over a single dark fiber span without add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) nodes, albeit with reduced reach.
Technology 400ZR 400ZR+ 400G Multihaul 400G Transponder
Bit rate 400Gb/s only 100 – 400Gb/s 100 – 400Gb/s 100 – 800Gb/s
Reach 40 – 120 km (amp) 400 – 600 km (amp) 500 – 750 km (amp) >1,000 km (amp)
Modulation 16QAM QPSK, 8/16QAM QPSK, 8/16QAM QPSK, 8 – 64QAM
FEC CFEC CFEC+, oFEC CFEC+, oFEC, NOK FEC Proprietary
Tx power -7 to -10 dBm -7 to -10 dBm ~0 dBm >0 dBm
Form factor QSFP-DD QSFP-DD CFP2 Integrated line card
Interfaces 100GE, 400GE 100GE, 400GE 100GE/OTU4, 400GE 100GE/OTU4, 400GE
ROADM bypass No Limited Yes. Multiple Yes. Many
Application Metro DCI Metro Metro/regional Metro/regional
Long haul/Subsea
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12 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
400G Multihaul DCOs further expand on 400ZR+ capacity-reach large installed base of QSFP-DD and CFP2-capable router ports that
performance using the CFP2 pluggable form factor that can be can be readily equipped to support 400GE, and by the many potential
equipped in routers and/or WDM transponder systems. In addition, applications in DCI, metro access and aggregation rings, and metro/
400G Multihaul DCOs support 100–400 Gb/s line rates using QPSK, regional core networks.
8QAM and 16QAM modulation. They can also leverage higher launch
Network operators need flexibility and choice in transceiver types
power to achieve longer optical reaches up to 750 km and pass
to optimize cost and performance for a given (sub-)network or link
multiple ROADM hops.
because of dependencies relating to fiber availability, quality, reach,
400G pluggable DCO transceivers are complemented by the latest link topology and service requirements. IP-optical coordination
evolution in fifth-generation coherent optical transponders, which is critical for seamlessly deploying, operating and assuring these
are performance-optimized to maximize wavelength capacity and options throughout the network.
reach. These transponders take the form of integrated line cards
Figure 2 depicts the transition to the 400GE era and the IP-optical
that reside within WDM optical transport systems. State-of-the-art
interworking options that will enable this. The present mode of
optical transponders can deliver 400G services over thousands of
100GE operation for most, if not all, operators is depicted on the left.
kilometers by applying sophisticated DSP techniques and high-gain
It uses gray client optics in combination with optical transponders.
forward error correction (FEC). Optical transponders are typically
The 100GE era started roughly ten years ago with the transition of IP
deployed in combination with ROADMs for regional and long-haul
backbone links to 100GE. It triggered a major upgrade cycle of core
networks where fiber connectivity is scarce and costly.
routing platforms. Today, 100GE is a ubiquitous interface in every
part of the network, and 4x 100GE interface ports are a popular
Transitioning to 400GE breakout option for QSFP-DD connectors.
It will take time to build an ecosystem for 400GE coherent When IP traffic scales to substantiate evolution of router ports
pluggable optics, as with any new technology. Commercially to 400GE, plugging a coherent 400G transceiver into a router
available 400ZR, 400ZR+ and 400G Multihaul products will start eliminates the need for an optical muxponder or transponder in
shipping in mid-2021, and market uptake will be facilitated by the the optical transport system. 400 Gb/s is ample bandwidth to
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13 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
cost-efficiently fill a single wavelength but in many applications, Operators that are evolving their 100GE networks to 400GE are likely
router connections may need to accommodate prior generations of to operate in this mode for an interim period because it leverages
interface speeds, such as 100GE. Hybrid IP-optical solutions will their current optical network investments while offering incremental
continue to be used to efficiently meet variable capacity and reach cost savings through the use of pluggable coherent 400GE
objectives in mixed deployment scenarios that combine 100GE and transceivers. They may also still require present-mode solutions
400GE interfaces or have link requirements that are beyond the based on transponders on long fiber routes and for traversing larger
reach of coherent pluggable transceivers. numbers of ROADM hops in packet aggregation rings.
Transition to the 400GE era
The 100GE Era The 400GE Era
IP Routing N x 100GE from router connect to Pluggable 400G
transport layer via grey optics DCOs in routers
enables IP-optical
integration for
access, metro and
regional networks
Coherent Transport Transponder or OTN switch mixes Transponders/
100GE into WDM wavelengths OTN For long
spans orTHE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Migrating IP-optical networks to 400G everywhere
The 400GE era presents an opportunity for network operators to The Nokia WaveFabric Elements optical portfolio expands the 400G
rethink and reoptimize IP-optical networks, and 400G coherent ecosystem with new pluggable coherent transceivers and high-
optical technology will play a key role in many future deployments. performance coherent subsystems designed to meet surging
The choice of whether to evolve and optimize existing demands from 5G and the cloud. Launched in May 2020, it
deployments or make a fresh start with next-generation solutions leverages a new generation of PSE-V coherent technology and
optimized for 400GE will largely depend on the age and longevity integrated silicon photonics to power and push new benchmarks for
of each current network. transmission performance, cost efficiency and interface density.
The Nokia IP-optical networking portfolio offers the scope, depth
and range of 400G implementation options that operators need to
make these decisions and succeed in the 400GE era. Nokia is a
leader in 400G routing and optical technology and has achieved More to explore
several industry firsts, including:
Blog: IP + optics: Better together in the 400G era
•
Launching FP3, the first 400 Gb/s-capable routing silicon, Blog: Better coordination of operations across IP and optical
in July 2011 layers with SDN
Demonstrating the first 400 Gb/s IP routing interfaces in
• Solution: IP-optical coordination
February 2015 Technology: FP4 network processor
•
Shipping the industry’s first commercially available 400GE line
cards in July 2018
Supplying the first commercial deployment of 400GE router
•
interfaces in March 2019
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15 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
400G IP-optical solutions
New 400GE standards and pluggable optics All of this leads to two key questions. What are the use cases for
IP-optical integration? And what IP and optical elements are
technologies are bringing true IP-optical required to enable an end-to-end solution that is more than the
integration within reach. What are the use sum of its parts?
cases and what ingredients are needed to enable There are as many network types as there are network operators,
400G anywhere? but we can narrow these down to a few typical cases that vary
based on the increasing complexity of their service connections
Use cases and building blocks and network scope, as shown in the figure below. The first category
New developments in IP and optics are re-igniting discussion about covers applications that require simple point-to-point connection
IP-optical integration. Standardization of the 400GE protocol is of multiple 400GE ports between routers. It includes campus
leading the industry to embrace 400G as the new currency for networks, high-bandwidth access links and metro DCI, and may
high-bandwidth router connections. Router ports designed to extend to longer distances for regional DCI to enable data center
accept 400G pluggable optics can now also be equipped with virtualization. In such cases, the requirement for an IP-optical
pluggable WDM coherent transceivers. These transceivers extend solution mainly calls for simple WDM aggregation of multiple 400G
high-speed connections to much longer distances across the WAN interfaces, and optical amplification whenever the link distance
and allow network operators to forgo the use of transponders exceeds a few tens of kilometers .
implemented in a separate WDM transport system.
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16 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Optimal IP-optical solutions should enable use across a In more complex network topologies, IP traffic doesn’t simply start
wide range of network types and end at each routing node. It consists of complex, meshed,
end-to-end service demands that generate high volumes of through
traffic. Effective IP-optical network solutions should offer a range of
connectivity and distance options that cost-effectively support the
ability to add and drop services to and from multiple destinations,
and support pass-through traffic that needs to transit intermediate
nodes. It should provide these capabilities with minimal interface
Access & Metro DCI Metro Aggregation Metro & Regional Long-Haul transitions between IP routing and optical transport layers. To
Simple
Point-Point
Medium
Rings
Complex
Rings & Mesh
Complex
Mesh
achieve this, network operators need to consider four key IP-optical
No add/drop
10s – 100s km
2-4 way add/drop
10s – 100s km
Multi-degree add/drop
100s km
Multi-degree add/drop
100s – 1000s km
building blocks necessary for providing optimal and versatile
solutions across the full range of 400G network applications:
1. Pluggable coherent WDM optics in different form factors to meet
cost and connectivity objectives
Besides linear, point-to-point applications, viable IP-optical
solutions must also accommodate a wide range of more complex 2. Suitable IP routers that are designed to support these pluggable
network use cases. These include: coherent optics
• M
etro and regional aggregation rings that collect hub and spoke 3. Optical line systems that efficiently connect routers and
traffic from access nodes and central offices to one or more multiplex wavelengths
service hubs on fiber links
• Metro core networks with any-to-any traffic connections 4. Multilayer IP-optical management and control software that
between central offices (COs), internet exchanges (IXs) and supports seamless, end-to-end operation
co-location sites
• Regional and long-haul core backbones that interconnect cities
and regions, along with widely disparate DCs and internet
peering sites
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ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
A complete set of optimized IP-optical solutions enables
more than the sum of its parts
Router-pluggable coherent optics
Pluggable DCO transceivers can be equipped directly in router
ports to provide the scalable WDM capacity required to link high-
• Scalable
capacity routers. These transceivers support
IP Routing • Multiservice
• High density
a range of options:
• 400ZR is designed for short-reach links up to 120 km.
• 400ZR+ adds multi-rate capability and extends reach.
Management
& control • 4
00G Multihaul transceivers further expand capacity–reach
• Pluggable
Coherent • 400G • Multilayer capability, add service provider-oriented features and support
optics • Reach options • Multivendor pass-through traffic for multiple nodes
• Automation using ROADMs.
The incremental capability of 400G Multihaul DCO transceivers
makes them an important element in a portfolio of IP-optical
solutions. Their longer reach extends the application space of
• Capacity
Optical line IP-optical applications into metro and regional networks and across
• Reach
system longer distances. It also enables optimized router bypass through
• Flexibility
intermediate nodes, allowing end-to-end traffic demands to avoid
unnecessary router transits.
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18 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Optimized routers for IP-optical integration Nokia’s router design practices prioritize efficient thermal management
with features such as dual-sided line card printed circuit boards (PCBs)
Routing platforms are judged across a wide range of attributes to avoid stacked optics cages, a large dedicated heatsink for each cage
unrelated to optics. However, the ability of routers to successfully to improve cooling, and air guides to ensure even and unobstructed
integrate pluggable 400G DCO transceivers is a critical part of any airflow. This combination of features means that Nokia routers can
successful IP-optical solution. Nokia’s market-leading service accept the complete range of pluggable 400G DCO transceivers
routers, based on the FP4 family of scalable, programmable packet without limitations such as dedicated slots, equipping rules or leaving
processors, are notable for having enabled the first commercial some ports empty.
deployment of 400GE interfaces. They have been engineered with
IP-optical integration in mind. Their design addresses two Routers need to support the full range of 400G pluggable form factors
important requirements for successfully integrating 400G DCO to enable IP-optical solutions across all network use cases. While 400ZR
transceivers: thermal management and interface diversity. and 400ZR+ in QSFP-DD formats can be equipped in the same router
ports as short-reach client optics, their capacity–reach performance
Power consumption and heat dissipation are higher for 400G limits their use to short- or medium-reach point-to-point links for
pluggable coherent optics than for short-reach client optics. Power access and metro DCI applications.
and cooling of line card cages can become an issue for routers
designed to maximize switching capacity and interface density. Nokia routers also support interface cards with CFP2 ports. This
The thermal design of 400G-capable line cards is thus a critical enables operators to use pluggable 400G Multihaul optics to provide
element for coherent IP-optical integration. It determines a superior capacity–reach performance for metro and regional
router’s ability to efficiently cool all interface ports, including applications, and to transit multi-node links with ROADMs at
pluggable 400G coherent optics. intermediate sites.
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19 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
In addition, Nokia routers enable operators to interwork router-
pluggable coherent optics with transponder-based optics over
common network links to allow further optimization based on end-
to-end service demands. By providing the ability to mix and match
coherent interface options with different form factors, Nokia
platforms enable operators to make optimal use of 400G as a single
network currency across all network applications.
A complete range of 400G coherent optics in routers and
transponders enables 400G everywhere
Access and Metro Metro Core and High-performance
Metro DCI Aggregation Regional Core/Long-Haul
400ZR 400ZR+ 400G 400G
Multi-haul Transponder
Router based coherent optics
Transponder based coherent optics
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20 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Application-optimized optical line systems
The next consideration is how to best interconnect routers with
400G coherent optics over a fiber network. Efficiently connecting
routers over fiber is the task of the optical line system, which
implements a collection of important functions, including:
• Multiplexing/de-multiplexing multiple WDM channels onto
a fiber
• Optical amplification at endpoints and intermediate sites to
boost optical power levels for greater reach
• ROADMs that can route and switch 400G coherent links as
needed to optically bypass intermediate router nodes and
avoid the unnecessary consumption of router capacity for
transit traffic
The Nokia 1830 PSS family provides a full range of line system
options to enable optimal configurations for all IP-optical network
use cases. Targeted features such as WDM mux/demux and
This makes it easier to reengineer and optimize IP-optical links to
amplifiers can provide operators with a compact and cost-efficient
efficiently accommodate network growth, changing demand
solution for DCI and other simple point-to-point applications. For
patterns, and planned or unplanned network outages.
more complex networks, operators can add features such as
ROADMs to enable optical bypass in metro aggregation rings, or The key to tying routers, pluggable coherent optics and line systems
for multi-degree nodes with a large number of ingress/egress together to create a deployable IP-optical solution is to integrate
directions. The 1830 PSS also enables operators to optically them into a unified end-to-end network management, control and
bypass intermediate router nodes where and when needed. automation platform.
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21 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
IP-optical management
To create 400G IP-optical solutions that are more than the sum of
their parts, operators need a complete set of hardware and
software building blocks optimized around the new network
currency of 400G. These solutions should include a range of
pluggable coherent optics, routing platforms optimized for 400G
coherent pluggable transceivers, multifunction optical line
systems, and multilayer, end-to-end management.
When combined and deployed in synergy, these building blocks
give network operators flexible options for addressing a wide range
of network use cases without making trade-offs in cost or
performance. This helps operators avoid the need to over-design
IP-optical solutions for short, point-to-point access and metro
links, or to overspend on inefficient architectures or
underperforming optics in more complex metro, regional and core
networks. With the ability to choose and combine the right options
in each instance, and evolve, expand and upgrade when needed, More to explore
operators can ensure that they will realize the expected benefits
of IP-optical integration. Blog: Optimizing open line systems to support 400G anywhere
Blog: How to boost the efficiency of your operations with
automation across IP and optical layers
Solution: Network Services Platform
Application note: Achieving efficient IP-optical network
automation with the Nokia NSP
Solution: Wavelength routing
Brochure: Nokia WaveFabric advanced wavelength routing
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22 © Nokia 2021THE DAWN OF THE 400G THE ECONOMICS OF IP ROUTING FOR THE 400GE 400G IP-OPTICAL A 400G AND OPTICAL
INTRODUCTION
ERA 400G ERA SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY LEADER
A 400G and optical technology leader
Pluggable 400G DCO technology is a game changer for optimizing
IP-optical network designs for the 400G era. These compact and
modular 400GE transceivers offer a low-cost, high-density
alternative to conventional solutions by using gray router optics
with integrated WDM transponders in optical line systems.
Our IP routing and optical systems portfolio offers the scope, depth, platforms and tools
you need to capitalize on pluggable DCOs and succeed in the 400G era. The innovative
power and cooling designs of our QSFP56-DD and CFP2 line cards make it easy to equip
400GE coherent pluggable transceivers in existing Nokia routers and line cards.
We also lead the way in coherent optical components and line systems. The combination
of our state-of-the-art silicon photonics and fifth-generation PSE-V digital signal
processor will take transmission performance, cost-efficiency and interface density to new
levels. Our WaveFabric Elements optical portfolio expands the 400G ecosystem with new
components and subsystems to meet surging demands from 5G and the cloud.
For more on this visit our webpage, nokia.com400Geverywhere
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23 © Nokia 2021Nokia OYJ Karakaari 7 02610 Espoo Finland Document code: (May 2021) CID210434 About Nokia We create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks or trade names of their respective owners. © 2021 Nokia Back
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