Coherent Announces General Availability of Industry-First 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO With High Optical Output Power

Core Insights - Coherent Corp. has launched the industry's first 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO with 0dBm optical output power, aimed at metro and regional ROADM-based line systems [1][2] Product Features - The 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO is the only high-power coherent transceiver in the compact QSFP28 form factor, reducing power dissipation and network footprint [2] - It is designed for IP-over-DWDM deployments, eliminating the need for expensive muxponders and transponders, thus allowing network operators to scale efficiently while enhancing performance [2] - An optional Tunable Optical Filter is available to support colorless ROADM configurations, increasing the product's versatility [2] Market Context - The pluggable 100G coherent market is rapidly growing as networks transition from 10G DWDM, with Coherent being the sole provider of a QSFP28 solution [3] - The introduction of a high-power option enables operation over existing ROADM networks, expanding the 100ZR market into metro applications [3] Industry Impact - Higher-power coherent pluggables are essential for cost-effective IP-over-DWDM architectures, particularly in metro and regional networks [3] - The new 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO enhances network efficiency and scalability, simplifying ROADM-based transport [3] - The product is built with Coherent's vertical integration capabilities, including InP photonic integrated circuits and in-house digital signal processing [4] Strategic Partnerships - Coherent collaborates with Adtran to advance coherent DSP technology, enabling operators to expand capacity and reduce costs while transitioning to flexible optical networks [3] - Juniper Networks highlights the transceiver's role in upgrading metro DWDM networks and addressing capacity bottlenecks for bandwidth-intensive services [4]