Ciena expands global distribution channel for WaveLogic coherent technology

New relationships with Lumentum, NeoPhotonics and Oclaro to drive choice and innovation in the optical networking industry.

Tuesday, 21st March 2017 Posted 7 years ago in by Phil Alsop

Ciena^® is extending the market reach of its industry-leading WaveLogic coherent modem technology by making it available to a range of industry participants. Optical component leaders Lumentum, NeoPhotonics and Oclaro will each leverage Ciena’s WaveLogic technology to build coherent optical modules that offer industry-leading rates and reach to optimize networks across a wide range of applications. In addition, each of the companies will form part of an ecosystem that will focus on standards-based innovation to enable customer choice in the emerging 400G pluggable market, which is being driven by data center interconnect (DCI) requirements for greater scale, improved power efficiency and lower costs.

While retaining its intellectual property, Ciena will supply its WaveLogic Ai chipset to Lumentum, NeoPhotonics and Oclaro, who will each be responsible for the manufacturing, sales and distribution of Ciena-designed 5x7 coherent modules based on the combination of WaveLogic and electro-optics components.

In addition, the companies will each contribute to the development of 400G pluggable technologies and the establishment of specifications ahead of relevant industry forums and standards-setting bodies. Ciena will invest in additional coherent DSP technology, which its partners intend to incorporate in the development of 400G pluggable modem solutions for a variety of hardware and systems vendors.

Lumentum, NeoPhotonics and Oclaro will also contribute to the development of a roadmap for future generations of coherent optical modules based on Ciena’s WaveLogic technology.