Broadcom Introduces Processing Core Enhanced by 20-nm Mixed-Signal Technologies

NTT Electronics (NEL), a leading supplier of coherent Digital Signal Processor (DSP) solutions to system and module manufacturers worldwide, today announced that its second generation Low-Power DSP product, NLD0640 Gen2 LP-DSP, is now generally available for manufacturers, and is shipping thousands of the new LP-DSP Integrated Circuits (IC's) in its first quarter to fifteen manufacturers worldwide for upgrading and/or downsizing their optical module and system. Its confirmed interoperability among multi-source 100G pluggable coherent optics drives the industry into high-port-density 100G Metro deployments.

The new NLD0640 Gen2 LP-DSP features integrated 100GE transponder capability, full coverage of operation modes such as the lowest power 80-km ZR mode and power-managed metro mode for distances up to 1200km, and digital equalizer compensating electrical signal distortion to-and-from 100G pluggable Analog Coherent Optics (ACO). As the first major milestone of NEL's ongoing collaboration with Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM)¹, the new NLD0640 Gen2 LP-DSP is the industry's first 20nm coherent DSP product which started to sample last September². The new NLD0640 Gen2 LP-DSP uses Broadcom's cutting-edge signal-processing-enhanced mixed-signal technologies to intensify the industry-leading coherent processing core which has already been widely deployed as NEL's first generation 40nm DSP product NLD0629 Gen1 DSP³.

“The availability of merchant silicon for coherent transmission, such as NEL’s Low Power Coherent DSP, is a major step forward for the industry because of its potential to trigger greater economies-of-scale for ubiquitous deployment of coherent systems and improve platform density,” said Glenn Wellbrock, director of optical transport network, architecture, design & planning, Verizon.

“I am glad to see that our initiative, to make merchant Silicon DSP solution available for every manufacturer, has evolved into this new generation.” said Masahito Tomizawa, Executive Manager of NTT Network Innovation Laboratories. “Digital coherent is an optical communications innovation, not only for enabling 100 Gbps per wavelength, but also for enabling interoperability among multi-source pluggable coherent optics using lower-cost technologies such as compound semiconductor and silicon photonics. One of my laboratories has already confirmed successful interoperability of the new NLD0640 Gen2 LP-DSP not only with multi-source CFP2-ACO’s but also with other CFP-DCO employing its in-house DSP ASIC.”

NEL will show a live demonstration of the new NLD0640 Gen2 LP-DSP in its Booth 1811 at the OFC2015 trade show in Los Angeles, California, March 24-26, 2015.

About NTT Electronics
NTT Electronics (NEL) has been developing and commercializing optical communications devices since 1995. It has a complete portfolio of optical and electronics products to cover the industry needs for 100G systems, ROADM components and FTTH networks. NEL is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan with offices in Saddle Brook, NJ, San Jose, CA, Millan, Italy, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, China.

¹ http://www.ntt-electronics.com/en/news/2013/03/nel_broadcom_dsp.html
NTT Electronics and Broadcom Collaborate on Low-Power, High-Performance Coherent Digital Signal Processor, March 18, 2013.

² http://www.ntt-electronics.com/en/news/2014/9/20nm-low-power-coherent-dsp.html
NTT Electronics Ships Industry's First 20nm Low-Power Coherent DSP, September 22, 2014.

³ http://www.ntt-electronics.com/en/news/2012_02_29.html
NTT Electronics (NEL) announces availability of industry's first low power 100G DSP-ASIC, Feb 29, 2012.