100G optical modules: CFP, CFP2, CFP-DCO, CFP2-ACO

 

Let's talk about the differences between DCO and ACO for 100G optical modules.

 

 

CFP, or multi-source protocol for 100G optical modules, has become the mainstream choice for long-distance transmission in backbone networks and metropolitan area networks.

 

 

Main architecture of coherent optical modules:

 

 

Continuing, 0IF defines the power consumption of a 100G optical module as follows:

 

 

Low power consumption, small package, large capacity, low price, and reliable operation are the ideals and goals that we in the communications industry pray for and strive for every day.

Following the massive CFP, there is now the CFP2.

 

 

Great, power consumption is reduced.

 

The CFP2-ACO is indeed smaller and has lower power consumption, but the analog signal is a bit of a problem. It's like the Wudang, Emei, and Shaolin schools each have their own algorithms, which are incompatible and don't agree with each other. Our MSA originally planned to discuss this in meetings, but this incompatibility is quite a headache.
Of course, DCO or ACO are just current choices. The wheels of history, the tides of history, and all sorts of historical events come and go in a whirlwind. What's troubling us today may not be a problem tomorrow.

Squeezing a DSP into a CFP2 or even a CFP4 package could bring about some improvement.