Optical components and their role in optical networks

With the recent frenzy of new start-ups and acquisition activity in the optical communications space, companies are positioning themselves to better provide customers with the solutions they need for higher bandwidth and performance in the network. Coupled with staggering valuations, the expectations set by the financial institutions puts heavy pressure on creativity in commercializing optoelectronic solutions. Clearly, for high performance and efficient networks, the industry needs to be enabled by new optoelectronic component technologies and new system architectures. This paper reviews and roadmaps some of the key optoelectronic component and module based technologies that will be needed to support customer expectations over the next decade. The paper has two themes: firstly, optical technologies and what they can offer in terms of performance and bandwidth, and secondly, a view on technology roadmaps and where optical technologies are heading. Binding the two themes together will be a critical view of optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs). OEICs are well documented in the R&D establishment with over 15 years of papers, however, are gradually emerging as commercial products in optical networking architectures. This paper will review progress made and what the industry can expect from the integration of optical components for better performance metrics as the industry moves forward. The key metrics will include the silicon effect on manufacturing planar components such as optical multipliers (also known as mux and demux), both with add/drop capabilities as well as other associated planar components such as variable optical attenuators, switches, amplifiers etc. As in the majority of OEIC designs, different IC functions with emitter (laser) and receiver (detector) solutions will be discussed.