Demand is growing fast in optical communications. Video is the #1 driver for bandwidth, with YouTube alone using as much bandwidth today as the entire Internet did in 2000. Companies like Netflix, Amazon and Wal-Mart are offering feature-length movies for download, driving demand for fiber-to-the-home. Plus, high-definition video is fast becoming the state-of-the-art, with one high-definition movie taking up as much bandwidth as 35,000 Web pages, according to the Fiber-to-the-Home Council. Also, 25% of Americans recently said they watched a short video on their phone, according to Solutions Research Group.
Clearly, wireless communications are also increasing rapidly, especially data services such as those offered on the iPhone and other smart phone devices. The more wireless data usage, the higher bandwidth is needed in the core network, which drives optical deployment. This is what is happening now with 3G deployment.
Carriers need to "spend" to upgrade backhaul and core network to support the explosion in wireless data/video usage. Today the mainstream is 10G, but 40G is being deployed and will take over 10G. 100G will be deployed next year, and the industry has even begun to talk about 400G! The key is to cram in more info per bit per wavelength based on advanced modulation techniques.
Loi Nguyen
Vice President Networking, Communications and Multi-Market Products
Inphi Corporation
www.inphi.com
OFC/NFOEC Booth #813