Eugene Park, Senior Technical Marketing Manager at Acacia, discusses the momentum behind router-based coherent optics, particularly with the introduction of 400G Ultra Long Haul pluggables. These innovations have fundamentally changed how network operators design and scale their infrastructure, offering significant reductions in TCO, simplified operations, and improved power efficiency. While 400G coherent pluggables initially focused on metro and regional reaches, the industry’s continuous drive for expanded capabilities led to the development of 400G Ultra Long Haul (ULH) modules. These modules leverage advanced coherent technology, specifically Class 3 (120+ Gbaud data) rate technology, to extend the reach of 400G from metro/regional distances to ultra long-haul and even subsea applications. For exampleInternet2’s trial achieved 400Gbps link over 3,000 km and AARNet successfully demonstrated 4000G ULH coherent pluggable over a 4,600km subsea route on the Indigo cable.
