Recently, ZTE Corporation unveiled its "White Paper on Digital Infrastructure Technology Trends," outlining the challenges and technological innovations in the future development of digital infrastructure.
The white paper proposes that improving communication capacity can be achieved through three technological approaches: increasing single-wave speed, band expansion, and spatial division multiplexing. As the performance/cost advantages of single-fiber bands continue to diminish, spatial division multiplexing becomes an alternative path for continuous capacity enhancement.
By employing spatial division multiplexing, which involves increasing the fiber core count and transmission modes, a significant improvement in single-fiber capacity can be achieved. Technological pathways include multi-core weak coupling, multi-core strong coupling, few-mode weak coupling, and few-mode strong coupling.
Among them, multi-core weak coupling fiber/devices are relatively mature and capable of long-distance transmission. While multi-core weak coupling may not significantly outperform multi-fiber cables in terrestrial cable commercial value due to fiber maintenance and multi-core amplifier performance limitations, it garners more attention in submarine cable applications due to the energy efficiency of multi-core amplifiers and the size/density advantages of multi-core cables.
Few-mode weak coupling fiber/devices possess the necessary capabilities but are limited by mode crosstalk in fiber and connectors, making them suitable for short-distance DCI interconnection or applications with potential. Multi-core strong coupling fiber/devices have the required capabilities but are mainly hindered by the integration of multi-mode DSP and coherent optical devices, making them impractical in the short term. Few-mode strong coupling devices possess the necessary capabilities but face limitations in low fiber coupling efficiency and multi-mode OTU, rendering them not yet practical.
This comprehensive "White Paper on Digital Infrastructure Technology Trends" by ZTE highlights the various technological pathways and challenges involved in the future development of digital infrastructure. It serves as a valuable resource for industry professionals and stakeholders navigating the evolving landscape of digital communication.