In this episode, the Packet Pushers dive into optical networking. Optical networking tends to be a specialized area of networking. It’s much less about packets and paths and more about physical properties of fiber optic cables, signal propagation, and remote operations.
In recent times, optical companies have been moving into Data Center Interconnect (DCI) and selling direct to enterprises using dark fiber as well as offering DCI services via infrastructure suppliers.
Joining us today to offer their expertise on optical are Scott Wilkinson, Senior Director, Portfolio Marketing at ECI Telecom; and Andrew Schmitt, founder of Cignal AI.
We discuss the basics of silicon photonics and how it impacts optical networking, particularly for DCI. We also examine the open optical movement being driven by the Facebook-backed Telecom Infrastructure Project.
Show Links:
Cignal AI Newsletter sign-up – Cignal AI
IP and Optical integration white paper – ECI Telecom (PDF)
ONF s ODTN Project Brings Disaggregation and Open Source to Optical Networking – Open Networking.org
Infinera – Following the Open Road(map) – YouTube
Download an overview of latest news from last big optical conference – OFC2018
Pulse-amplitude modulation – Wikipedia
Quadrature amplitude modulation – Wikipedia
Facebook Voyager, an initiative of the Telecom Infrastructure Project with support from Cumulus – Cumulus Networks
Telecom Infra Project: An open approach for switching, routing, and transport – Facebook