100GBASE-ZR Application Overview

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100GBASE-DR, 100GBASE-FR1, 100GBASE-LR1, 100BASE-LR4, 100BASE-ZR, and 100BASE-ER4
100GBASE-ZR: Up to 100 Gb/s dense wavelength-division multiplexed (DWDM) DP‑DQPSK serial transmission over 2 single‑mode optical fibers, with reach up to at least 80 km

100GBASE-ZR supports up to 48‑channel DWDM dual polarization differential quadrature phase shift keying (DP‑DQPSK) modulated serial transmission over duplex (2‑fiber) single‑mode optical fiber cabling. Equivalent symbol rate is dependent on optical signal‑to‑noise ratio (OSNR), amplification, and number of transmission channels; bandwidth may be reduced for ultra long distances. Network equipment interface connections include a duplex optical fiber connector and a standard socket into which physical (PHY) layer transceiver modules may be plugged.

  • Connector type: LC
  • Transceiver module: CFP
  • Defined in clause 154 of the IEEE 802.3 Standard for Ethernet
  • Initially published as IEEE Std 802.3ct™: Physical Layers and Management Parameters for 100 Gb/s Operation over DWDM systems in 2021

Optical Fiber Cabling (Channel) Characteristics:

100GBASE-ZR is specified for operation over a DWDM “black link”. This approach specifies optical interface parameters at the channel input and output, but does not specify how the link is constructed, configured, or operated. Functions occurring within the DWDM black link may include optical amplification, optical wavelength division multiplexing and demultiplexing, and simultaneous transport of multiple DWDM channels on a single fiber. Benefits of this approach include accommodating a variety of optical transmission systems, which can lead to improved performance and cost savings, and scalability to support higher data rates, such as 400GBASE‑ZR and 800GBASE‑ZR.

Annex 154A of the IEEE 802.3 Standard for Ethernet provides examples of 100GBASE‑ZR compliant DWDM black links. In all examples, maximum cabled fiber attenuation is assumed to be 0.25 dB/km and operating ranges are calculated using a 2 dB allocation for loss of patch panels.

Key Application Capabilities:

  • Defines a 100 Gb/s PHY for operation over at least 80 km of a DWDM SMF system
  • Supports full-duplex operation only
  • Preserves the Ethernet frame format utilizing the Ethernet MAC
  • Preserves minimum and maximum FrameSize of current 802.3 Standard for Ethernet
  • Provides appropriate support for optical transport networks (OTNs)
  • Supports a BER of better than or equal to 10-12 at the MAC/PLS service interface

Back to TIA FOTC IEEE 802.3 Single-mode Optical Fiber Ethernet Standards Explorer