NEC announced today the sales launch of the world's first 100Gbps optical receiver module using the digital coherent technologies and the introduction of a 40Gbps version as well. Optical transceiver modules are key components for WDM equipment for large capacity/long distance transmission across optical fiber.

The new products are using the DP-QPSK modulation technology, which improves the wavelength efficiency by 4 times in comparison to current models that use the direct modulation method, enabling large capacity transmission.

They also features a built-in optical hybrid mixer using Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) technology and digital coherent transceiver circuits that compensates the waveform distortion due to optical fiber transmission. Through this, they can transmit over 2,000 km without using dispersion compensation fiber, which is more than 20 times further than current products.



NEC has also integrated high speed signal processing into the IC, reducing the size of the transceiver module to 127mm x 177mm x 33mm, which conforms optical module industry standards.

NEC plans to ship the 100Gbps digital coherent optical receiver module in March, 2012 and the 40Gbps digital coherent optical receiver module in November, 2011. The company expects to ship 50,000 units over the next three years.