With AI driving unprecedented demands on networking infrastructure, optical interconnect components such as PAM4 DSPs have become critical for delivering the intra-data center bandwidth needed for operators to quickly scale-out their networks with reliable, low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity. This demand for higher interconnect speeds is accelerating the transition to 1.6T, with LightCounting forecasting sales of 1.6T Ethernet optical transceivers to exceed $15 billion by 2030.
1.6T Connectivity for Scale-out and Scale-Across Architectures
While scale-up networks focus on connecting as many GPUs as possible for parallel processing, scale-out networks then connect these scale-up nodes together. Scale-out architectures require very high-speed interconnects with higher-bandwidth, lower power and smaller footprint. PAM4 DSP ASICs meet this need by doubling the bit rate of short reach optical interconnects compared to traditional two-level non-return-to-zero (NRZ) transmission methods. Network operators may also choose to use 1.6T optics for scale-across networks that connect GPUs to GPUs for distances up to 10km.
PAM4 DSP ASICs enable network operators to meet the intra-data center demand for scale.
Highly Resilient, High-Bandwidth, Lower Power Kibo 1.6T PAM4 DSP
Designed to enable 200G per lane PAM4 data transmission for 1.6T optical transceivers, Kibo delivers 20% lower power compared to existing 1.6T module implementations designed to meet the highly reliable connectivity requirements of AI networks.
The Kibo PAM4 DSP in conjunction with Acacia’s Optical Engines can deliver a solution with the performance and power efficiency required for the most demanding AI workloads. The 3nm Kibo DSP is sampling and will be demonstrated at OFC.
The Kibo DSP enables multiple lanes of high-speed PAM4 modulated transmission in conjunction with high-speed transmit and receive optical engines.
Acacia Kibo DSP Key Features:
- Lower power: 3nm CMOS node for market leading power efficiency
- Standards compliant: Industry standards compliance enhanced by Acacia’s algorithms to mitigate the impact of optical impairments
- TRO Support: Transmit Retimed Optics (TRO) configurations with power-efficient support for diagnostic and loopback troubleshooting capabilities
- Configuration Flexibility: Support for gearbox and retimer applications
- Broad Module Support: Designed to support 1.6T DR8 and 2xFR4, as well as 800G DR4, DR8, FR4 and 2xFR4 modules in OSFP/QSFP-DD form factors
Kibo uses 3nm CMOS silicon to enable the 200G-per-lane bit rates utilizing complex algorithms reliably implemented in high-transistor-count, low-power consuming silicon ASICs.
Kibo 3nm PAM4 DSP enables 1.6T optical interconnect transmission critical in AI scale-out architectures.
Acacia is a Trusted DSP Supplier
The anticipated aggressive growth trajectory for 1.6T modules emphasizes how critical it will be to have numerous PAM4 DSP suppliers to support this growth by providing high volume, high quality, and reliable components.
Acacia can support high-volume production with more than 15 years of field-proven experience with DSP and high-speed RF designs to mitigate both electrical and optical impairments to ensure extremely robust and reliable high-speed connectivity.
Meet with us at OFC
If you are heading to Los Angeles, we’d love to see you and show you the demonstration. Learn more about Acacia at OFC in this blog and click here to schedule a meeting.
