Facebook has developed a new optical packet transport architecture that it plans to contribute to the open-source Telecom Infra Project. The new approach called Open Packet DWDM uses combined packet and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology for metro and long-haul fibre-optic transport networks. Facebook has used Open Packet DWDM to develop a new transponder platform called Voyager and is working with companies such as Adva, Coriant and Equinix to test the system.
Facebook's development is focusing on transport networks for wireless backhaul and accelerating the development of DWDM. The company is unbundling the hardware and software in existing 'black box' systems, such as transponders, filters, line systems, and control and management software, so each component can be worked on independently and deliver more bandwidth with greater cost efficiency.
The first result is Open Packet DWDM, a packet transponder and open line transport system with open optical specifications. Voyager is what Facebook calls the industry’s first 'white box' transponder and routing platform, designed around Open Packet DWDM. The design will be contributed to the TIP via the Backhaul: Open Optical Packet Transport (OOPT) project group, with the aim of encouraging more open and programmable network architectures.
Voyager is a 1RU DWDM device that features 12 x 100Gbps QSFP 28 clients and 4 x 200Gbps 16QAM on the line side. Support for the new white box product was announced jointly with TIP members on stage at their inaugural summit at Facebook's headquarters.
Coriant said it is providing its networking software Coriant Light IP for the Voyager platform. Light IP integrates IP capabilities with the optical layer to maximize overall network efficiency while minimizing traffic latency. As part of its commitment, Coriant will make an engineering proof of concept available to the TIP community based on the Light IP solution.
Adva Optical Networking Voyager said it worked with members of the TIP transport group to define the ways in which the Voyager platform can be
Equinix will deploy and test the Voyager switches inside two of its data centres. The initial tests at the SV3 and SV8 IBX data centres in Silicon Valley showed zero packet loss and significant overall cost savings due to the disaggregated hardware and software networking model of Voyager, Equinix said. Facebook said it also plans to test the system with MTN in South Africa.
