Last year marked 50 years since the invention of Ethernet in 1973, meaning it took almost 37 years to release 100Gbps as standard in 2010. In the decade following, we saw a range of speed standards that reflected market demands for different scenarios.

Cloud service providers are industry leaders who explore innovative ways to adopt new speeds, and the telecom transport network will follow. In the 51^st year, the AI boom is a catalyst for migration to a higher-speed network. A new era for 800G is about to Reducing power consumptiontake off and pave the way to 1.6T.

This blog examines the advantages of upgrading to faster speeds, addresses service providers' reservations, and explores market solutions to these uncertainties.

Figure 1. Ethernet roadmap (Source: Ethernet Alliance)

▪ Cost implications of 800G

The benefits of upgrading networks to a higher speed are plentiful. Alongside offering a higher service capacity, cost is one of the main reasons for the move.

Generally speaking, the OPEX of a data center is much higher than the CAPEX. Electricity and the cost of space are major contributors to the OPEX.

Reducing power consumption

According to a report from Equinix, electricity represents 23% of operational spending . With inflation and climate change, power costs are anticipated to increase steadily over the coming years. Many new technologies are addressing this issue by lowering system power consumption and optimizing heat dissipation.
The new semiconductor process can increase transistor density while decreasing power consumption. For example, TSMC claimed its 5nm chips can reduce power consumption by 25% - 30% with the same performance as 7nm chips .
Another factor is heat management. Good thermal design can increase the efficiency of heat dissipation and prevent fans from operating at full speed, reducing power consumption. Maximizing the venting hole area to increase airflow, leveraging the air baffle to maintain the airflow integrity, and using a heat sink to conduct heat to the chassis are all common approaches to optimize thermal performance.

Optimizing space utilization

Finding suitable areas to rent is also challenging. In brownfields, where space is fixed, service providers must optimize space utilization while accommodating the growing traffic demand.
The new generation ASIC brings higher density and consumes less space. Broadcom Tomahawk 5 with 51.2 Tbps switching capacity delivers a more efficient service compared to the 6 of 25.6 Tbps ASIC machines required previously.
Take the Distributed Disaggregated Chassis (DDC) platform that leverages CLOS topology to build a virtual chassis as an example. Comparing the 1^st and 3^rd generation DDCs, the 3^rd generation 800G platform requires 60% less space and consumes 38% less power when providing the same service capacity.

Figure 2. New generation platform brings higher efficiency

▪ Considerations when adopting new technologies

Migrating infrastructure is a huge task. Here are a few things for service providers to keep in mind before adopting a new technolog.
 

Signal degradation and reliability

Higher data transmission rates can make the signal more susceptible to degradation. Service providers are concerned about maintaining signal integrity over long distances and across various network elements.
Traditional circuit designs with copper traces can no longer carry higher speed signals. Using an external cable to replace the PCB routing can minimize signal loss and enable higher-speed signal transmission. A further step is Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), which integrates optics components into ASIC packages, minimizes the electrical link length, and delivers the signal in the optical domain.

Figure 3. Solution for high speed signal transmission

Interoperability

From software to routers, all components involve transmission, and parties must be on board to successfully enable the new infrastructure. They must also consider compatibility with existing infrastructure.
Although implementation largely follows industrial standards, the devil is in the details. Any minor difference in the implementation stage might cause interoperability issues.
Interoperability involves two areas: software and hardware. Software interoperability mainly refers to the functional testing between routers that ensures communication is going well. Many Plugfest events focus on software interoperability, and service providers always request a lab test to ensure new devices can fit into the network alongside existing equipment.
Hardware generally focuses on the components level, especially the transceivers. A router must prove itself as fit to work with existing transceivers that are used by the service providers, as well as new generation technology such as the latest speed or standards. A close collaboration between network equipment vendors and transceiver vendors will be very important to ensure seamless integration.

UfiSpace is 800G-ready

800G is on the way, and its introduction will certainly be expedited by the recent AI fever UfiSpace recently announced the 800G solution for transport networks and data centers at the MWC Barcelona 2024 event. Using the most advanced design, we deliver high-performance network equipment with low power consumption and unbeatable reliability. Comprehensive validation with software and hardware partners eliminates interoperability concerns. Be sure to check out our offerings or contact us for more details.

For more information, please contact our sales team.

About the Author

Will Chang Technical Marketing Manager, UfiSpace Will Chang, Technical Marketing Manager at UfiSpace, provides technical expertise and executes marketing campaigns on technical topics.