On February 16, 2023, Nokia announced the Photonic Service Engine-6 super coherent (PSE-6s), its latest coherent DSP in its distinguished lineage.
Omdia view
Summary
On February 16, 2023, Nokia announced the Photonic Service Engine-6 super coherent (PSE-6s), its latest coherent DSP in its distinguished lineage. Optical networks are comprised of numerous innovative technologies. The coherent DSP, the brains of optical network systems, is the lynchpin differentiator. Leading optical vendors must deliver new systems with innovation and cadence. Nokia’s PSE-6s delivers next-generation bandwidth-reach performance, power savings sustainability benefits, and fine-tuned control with enhanced telemetry.
Analyst’s view
PSE-6s builds upon enabling the latest technologies, leveraging Nokia’s innovation pedigree
Nokia will package two PSE-6s in a single line card enabling a dual-wavelength 2.4Tbps super-channel. Nokia has developed a chip-to-chip interface between the dual PSE-6s to enable bandwidth sharing. Practically, three 800Gbps clients can be launched with one line card.
The PSE-6s utilizes 5nm finFET, the latest widely utilized CMOS node that powers 130 GBaud operations. Nokia is up to its third generation of probabilistic constellation shaping. Nokia’s CSTAR silicon photonics technology was also utilized, enabling form factor and power draw gains.
PSE-6s performance
The core router community has begun its push to 800Gbps as a network currency. With PSE-6s, Nokia is preparing to transport those client demands as they materialize. Powered by the 130 GBaud capability, Nokia expects to be able to transport 800G wavelengths over more than 2,000km. At a speed of 400Gbps, transmission will be possible for continental network distances. The PSE-6s will also be able to transmit wavelengths with impressive bandwidth-reach performance over subsea links.
Telemetry capabilities have also been improved. Episodic events, such as weather, can affect optical networks. Yet, monitoring networks in course intervals can leave gaps in understanding and mask events. Tighter intervals ensure finer-grained control of network assets.
Power reduction achievements
The PSE-6s will enable further Watts-per-Gbps improvements stemming from enhanced network performance and the PSE-6s itself leveraging 5nm CMOS and CSTAR silicon photonics. The longer reach performance of key network currencies will reduce transponder needs in the network. Nokia asserts that with PSE-6s, it has achieved a 94% reduction in Watts-per-Gbps.
The impact
The high-performance optical network market is at a very interesting inflection point. With new applications and bandwidth-intensive access solutions, the wider cloud and communications market is placing greater demands on the optical core. Globally, many optical core networks are due for a refresh. With the latest coherent DSP in hand, Nokia is well-placed to capitalize on that open market window.
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Author
Ian Redpath, Research Director, Transport Networks and Components
