SoC set to enable cost

PMC-Sierra has unveiled what it calls the most advanced 40Gbit/s SoC solution for coherent (single wavelength) optical networking. The PM6373 POLO 40G doubles line card density and reduces power consumption by more than 50% when compared to 40G non coherent network deployments.

As the communications industry looks to boost fibre transmission rates beyond 10Gbit/s, POLO 40G is said to lower capital costs by eliminating the need for dispersion compensation management, dispersion compensated fibre and the cost of tuning and managing this equipment. Because POLO enabled line cards require only a single slot, carriers will be able to double density and reduce power consumption.

Jay Bennett, product marketing manager for PMC-Sierra's communication products division, said: "POLO takes coherent networking away from niche deployment, where it is only used on the most important routes, to something that can be deployed broadly. It also enables the collapsing of two or three slots into a low power form factor."

The 40nm cmos SoC integrates high performance mixed signal technology, digital signal processing, flash a/d converters, OTN framing and PMC's Swizzle forward error correction technology. Together, the elements compensate for optical impairments and improve optical performance by more than 2dB, extend fibre reach by 25%. Bennett said 40nm was key. "This enables a low power solution that doesn't need forced cooling. We want to enable existing networks to be upgraded while controlling costs."