A new wave of high-speed coherent optical components are expected gain widespread adoption in 2021, according to Dell’Oro analyst Jimmy Yu.
While vendors like Nokia, Ciena, and Infinera have been teasing faster and faster optics for years, Yu noted in a blog post that the optical transport market is a research and development heavy industry, with multi-year product cycles. “Grand ideas and proof of concepts announced years ago steadily build toward commercialization and main stream adoption over the course of a few years,” he wrote.
Yu said several long-hyped optical technologies, including those offering higher line rates up to 800 Gb/s, are likely reach the market in 2021.