Nokia Offers 400G Network Deployment Portfolio
5th Generation PSE DSP Optimized for 400G Optical Transmission


Over the past decade, the increasing demand for video and mobile bandwidth has been met thanks to the continuous advancement of optical and silicon technologies. However, as transmission capacity and processing capabilities reach fundamental limits, telecommunications operators are seeking new ways to continue expanding the scale of their networks while reducing costs.

Accordingly, on the 1st, Nokia announced the 'WaveFabric Elements portfolio,' consisting of photonic chips, devices, and subsystems, including the 'Photonic Service Engine-V (PSE-V),' a family of 5th generation coherent digital signal processing units (DSPs).

400G Ethernet is a network interface currently widely used in IP, optical, and data center networks. Nokia's WaveFabric Elements portfolio combines digital signal processing devices and optical technology focused on new end-to-end 400G applications. High-level vertical technology integration can meet the unique technical requirements and costs demanded by data centers, railways, and long-distance and submarine networks.

Nokia's 5th generation coherent DSP family, consisting of Nokia's PSE-Vs (Super coherent) and low-power PSE-Vc (Compact), is a multi-DSP optimized for various optical networking applications, form factors, and platforms.

PSE-V, supporting up to 90 Gbaud, utilizes Nokia Bell Labs' second-generation PCS (Probabilistic Constellation Shaping) products. By combining optimized algorithms with the enhanced capabilities of next-generation silicon, it enables transmission up to 800 G and provides a transmission distance 60% wider, power consumption per bit 40% lower, and 15% greater spectral efficiency compared to existing DSPs.

The PSE-Vc supports programmable transmission speeds from 100G to 400G in metro and long-distance networks. Because it consumes only ultra-low power, it can be integrated with various pluggable transceiver modules.

The new DSP is supported by the CSTAR optical engine family from Elenion Technologies, which Nokia recently acquired. The CSTAR optical engine family utilizes the latest silicon photonics and packaging technologies to support applications including data centers, Metro DCI, and long-distance optical transmission. The PSE-V DSP can be integrated into a pluggable transceiver module and used independently.

The Nokia 400G pluggable coherent transceiver module is optimized for a wide range of platforms and applications, including Nokia's extensive solutions such as optical transmission, IP, wired access, and mobile solutions. This portfolio includes 400G ZR/ZR+ capabilities in the QSFP-DD form factor and high-performance, multi-functional short- and medium-long-range 400G (400G Multi-haul variant) in the CFP2-DCO form factor.

Scott Wilkinson, Senior Research Analyst at Signal AI, explained, “Nokia is one of the few companies with experience building 5th generation DSPs,” adding, “Nokia’s strategy focusing on PSE-V-based 400G transmission will align well with market demands.”