Coherent expands silicon photonics transceiver portfolio for datacentres
The company says its new 2x400G-FR4 Lite product is designed to meet the AI-driven demand for high-density, energy-efficient interconnects that seamlessly integrate with Ethernet-based front-end networks
Coherent has announced the launch of its 2x400G-FR4 Lite optical transceiver, a silicon photonics-based module optimised for AI-driven datacentres and high-speed Ethernet networks. Designed for high-volume deployments, the company says this transceiver delivers 500 m reach while significantly reducing power consumption. It complements the Coherent’s existing 800G-DR8 transceiver, also built with silicon photonics technology, with a wavelength-multiplexed variant that is more fibre-efficient than the DR8, the company adds.
The explosive growth of AI and ML workloads is driving demand for high-density, energy-efficient optical interconnects that seamlessly integrate with Ethernet-based front-end networks. Coherent says it has engineered the 2x400G-FR4 Lite to support these evolving architectures by providing a streamlined design that lowers power consumption through silicon photonics integration and presents an alternative to conventional EML-based solutions for shorter reaches or less demanding applications.
“The 2x400G-FR4 Lite is built with silicon photonics, reinforcing our commitment to selecting the best technology for each application,” said Lee Xu, executive vice president of Datacom Transceivers. “With a technology portfolio that spans vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL), electro-absorption modulated lasers (EML), directly modulated lasers (DML), and silicon photonics, we tailor our solutions to optimise performance, efficiency, and cost for each application. In this case, silicon photonics was the optimal choice.”
The 2x400G-FR4 Lite integrates a silicon PIC for reduced component count and streamlined production, Coherent says, adding that it includes CW lasers, photodetectors, and passive optical components, and also eliminates the need for thermoelectric coolers.
