Marvell, Lumentum and Coherent Demonstrate Industry's First 800G ZR/ZR+ Pluggable Modules for 500km Data Center Interconnects

Rhea-AI Summary

Marvell Technology (NASDAQ: MRVL), Lumentum, and Coherent have successfully demonstrated 800G ZR/ZR+ optical modules for data center interconnects up to 500km, an industry first. This achievement enables cloud operators to efficiently scale regional data center connectivity for AI services. The modules, based on Marvell's Orion 800G coherent optical DSP, showcased interoperable metro-distance transmission over a 520km fiber link with a 2dB margin.

The development of these modules extends the reach from the standard 120km to 500km while maintaining compliance with OIF 800G ZR specifications. This advancement in pluggable coherent modules has seen a 100% CAGR since 2022, outpacing other coherent technologies. The interoperability demonstration highlights the expanding application of pluggable modules beyond short-reach data center interconnects, offering cost-effective and power-efficient solutions for cloud and traditional network operators.

Positive

• Successful demonstration of 800G ZR/ZR+ optical modules for data center interconnects up to 500km, an industry first
• Modules based on Marvell's Orion 800G coherent optical DSP show interoperability and extended reach
• Pluggable coherent modules deployment growing at over 100% CAGR since 2022
• Expansion of pluggable modules' application beyond short-reach data center interconnects

Negative

• None.

Insights

Network Infrastructure Analyst

This demonstration marks a significant leap in data center interconnect technology. The ability to transmit 800G over 500km using interoperable, standards-based pluggable modules is a game-changer for cloud operators. It enables more efficient scaling of regional data centers, important for the growing demands of AI services.

The 30% reduction in power consumption per bit with each new generation is particularly noteworthy. This efficiency gain, coupled with the 8X increase in bandwidth, translates to substantial cost savings and improved performance for cloud infrastructure. The multi-vendor ecosystem approach reduces vendor lock-in risks, fostering innovation and potentially lowering costs through competition.

For investors, this development signals strong growth potential in the data center interconnect market, especially as AI continues to drive demand for more robust and efficient network infrastructure.

Telecommunications Expert

The successful demonstration of 800G ZR/ZR+ optical modules over 500km is a significant technical achievement. It pushes the boundaries of what's possible with pluggable modules, traditionally to shorter distances. This breakthrough could reshape the optical networking landscape, potentially disrupting the market for traditional embedded optical solutions.

The 100%+ CAGR growth in pluggable coherent module deployments since 2022 is staggering. This rapid adoption rate suggests a major shift in network architecture preferences, favoring more flexible and scalable solutions. For telecom companies and equipment manufacturers, this trend could necessitate strategic pivots in product development and offerings.

Investors should watch for companies well-positioned in this space, as the expanding application of pluggable modules beyond short-reach data center interconnects opens up new market opportunities.

Ecosystem Enables Cloud Operators to Optimally Scale Regional Data Center Connectivity for the AI Era

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, Lumentum Holdings Inc., a market-leading designer and manufacturer of innovative optical and photonic products, and Coherent Corp., a leader in compound semiconductors and high-speed optical networking technology today announced the successful interoperability demonstration of 800G ZR/ZR+ optical modules over transmission links up to 500km. This achievement demonstrates that multivendor standards-based pluggable modules can interoperate while achieving the performance required for data center interconnects between regional cloud data centers spanning distances up to 500km, an industry first for 800G.

Cloud operators are scaling their infrastructure for AI services by building more regional data centers, which require optimized power and cost to interconnect. Pluggable coherent modules and DSPs have increased bandwidth by 8X while reducing power consumption per bit by 30% with each new generation. The emergence of a standards-based, multi-vendor ecosystem has further accelerated innovation and minimized the risk of vendor lock-in.

The 800G ZR/ZR+ optical modules used in the demonstration are all based on the Marvell^® Orion 800G coherent optical DSP. Modules from the three companies were used to showcase interoperable metro-distance transmission using 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) over a 520km G.652 fiber link with more than 2dB margin. 

Marvell, Lumentum and Coherent were able to develop modules, each with their own optics and module technology that enabled the reach to be extended from the standard 120km up to 500km leveraging the capabilities of the Orion DSP while maintaining compliance with the OIF 800G ZR specification. 

"At more than 100% CAGR since 2022, the deployment growth of pluggable coherent modules exceeds that of any other coherent technology in history," said Scott Wilkinson, lead analyst at Cignal AI. "Their performance increasingly rivals traditional embedded optics, and the interoperable test results with 800 Gbps ZR/ZR+ modules for long-distance DCI delivered by Marvell, Lumentum, and Coherent demonstrate that the application space for pluggables is expanding well beyond short-reach data center interconnect."

"Long-distance optical connectivity used to be the exclusive domain of embedded optical solutions but that's no longer the case," said Stephen Adolph, Vice President of Marketing at Marvell. "Interoperable ZR/ZR+ modules like the Marvell^® COLORZ^® 800 are now available from multiple vendors to address the longer data center interconnect distances of cloud operators as they scale their infrastructure for the AI era."

"The demand for greater bandwidth and longer distances continues to grow rapidly across all parts of the network, from data center interconnect to submarine cables," said Wupen Yuen, President of Cloud and Networking at Lumentum. "We're excited to collaborate with Marvell on developing this latest generation of high-performance optics and pluggable modules. Our partnership demonstrates how pluggable modules can scale even the largest networks to meet future challenges, offering cost-effective, space-efficient and power-efficient solutions."

"Pluggability everywhere is a critical inflection point in the transmission space," said Pranay Aiya, Vice President, Product Line Management for Transmission Solutions at Coherent. "Each generation of pluggable coherent modules further expands network coverage, enabling 800G services beyond data center interconnects to metro and regional applications. These results demonstrate interoperability at optimal performance for 800G pluggables and support a cost-efficient supplier ecosystem for both cloud and traditional network operators."

About Marvell 
To deliver the data infrastructure technology that connects the world, we're building solutions on the most powerful foundation: our partnerships with our customers. Trusted by the world's leading technology companies for over 25 years, we move, store, process and secure the world's data with semiconductor solutions designed for our customers' current needs and future ambitions. Through a process of deep collaboration and transparency, we're ultimately changing the way tomorrow's enterprise, cloud, automotive, and carrier architectures transform—for the better.

About Lumentum
Lumentum is a market-leading designer and manufacturer of innovative optical and photonic products enabling optical networking and laser applications worldwide. Lumentum optical components and subsystems are part of virtually every type of telecom, enterprise, and data center network. Lumentum lasers enable advanced manufacturing techniques and diverse applications, including next-generation 3D sensing capabilities. Lumentum is headquartered in San Jose, California, with R&D, manufacturing, and sales offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.lumentum.com.

About Coherent Corp.
Coherent empowers market innovators to define the future through breakthrough technologies, from materials to systems. We deliver innovations that resonate with our customers in diversified applications for the industrial, communications, electronics, and instrumentation markets. Headquartered in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, Coherent has research and development, manufacturing, sales, service, and distribution facilities worldwide. For more information, please visit us at coherent.com.

Marvell and the M logo are trademarks of Marvell or its affiliates. Please visit www.marvell.com for a complete list of Marvell trademarks. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future events or achievements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contemplated in this press release. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by us from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and no person assumes any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, contact:
Kim Markle
pr@marvell.com

 

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SOURCE Marvell

FAQ

What is the significance of Marvell's 800G ZR/ZR+ optical modules demonstration?

Marvell's demonstration of 800G ZR/ZR+ optical modules is significant as it's the industry's first for data center interconnects up to 500km, enabling cloud operators to efficiently scale regional data center connectivity for AI services.

How do the 800G ZR/ZR+ optical modules benefit cloud operators?

The 800G ZR/ZR+ optical modules benefit cloud operators by providing optimized power and cost for interconnecting regional data centers, supporting the scaling of infrastructure for AI services.

What is the growth rate of pluggable coherent modules deployment?

Pluggable coherent modules deployment has been growing at over 100% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) since 2022, exceeding the growth of any other coherent technology in history.

How does this development impact Marvell Technology's (MRVL) market position?

This development strengthens Marvell Technology's (MRVL) market position in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, particularly in the growing field of high-speed, long-distance data center interconnects for AI applications.