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MAY 17, 2007 -- Seeking to fill a perceived gap in current high-speed transmission standards efforts, the OIF (search for the OIF) has issued an invitation to industry to assist in creating SERDES framer interface for speeds up to 100 Gbits/sec.
The SFI-X project will define a scalable interface from an optical module to a framer device for line rates from 40 to 100 Gbits/sec and beyond. The new interface follows in the footsteps of the widely used SFI-4 interface for 10-Gbit/sec applications.
The OIF says the SFI-X will support the aggregation and deskewing of 4-16 data lanes at CEI (6-11 Gbit/sec) or future CEI-25 (20-25 Gbit/sec) signal rates. SFI-X is targeted to support the 100G work being addressed by standards bodies like IEEE 802.3 HSSG and ITU-T, and forums like ATIS and the Ethernet Alliance.
Steve Joiner, OIF vice president of marketing, acknowledged in an interview with Lightwave that the OIF's progress on developing the SFI-X will be gated by how quickly organizations such as the IEEE 802.3 HSSG and ITU-T establish parameters for 100-Gbit/sec transmission. He also noted that whether the standard will take 40-Gbit/sec transmission into account depends on industry input. Joiner noted that discussions within the industry concerning the viability of 40-Gbit/sec transmission in light of the eventual advent of 100 Gbits/sec have been echoed in OIF meetings.
The OIF will review the current status of 100-Gbit/sec optical networking standards development during its third quarter meeting August 13-17 in Somerset, NJ. The OIF expects to begin defining next steps -- including, potentially, delaying further work on the interface until other standards work is farther along -- at the meeting.
Companies interested in speaking with an OIF board member should direct inquiries to Andi Kosich at akosich@oiforum.com.
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