Terabit Ethernet

Facebook and Google, among other companies, have expressed a need for TbE. While a speed of is achievable with existing technology, () would require different technology. Accordingly, at the IEEE Industry Connections Higher Speed Ethernet Consensus group meeting in September 2012, 400 GbE was chosen as the next generation goal. In early 2016, core router platforms from Cisco, Juniper and other major manufacturers supported full duplex data rates per slot. One, two and four-port 100 GbE and one port 400 GbE line cards were available. In early 2019, 200 GbE line cards became available after 802.3cd standard ratification. In 2020 the Ethernet Technology Consortium announced a specification for 800 Gigabit Ethernet. 200G Ethernet uses PAM4 signaling, which allows 2 bits to be transmitted per clock cycle, but at a higher implementation cost. Cisco introduced an 800G Ethernet switch in 2022. In 2024, Nokia routers with 800G Ethernet were deployed. == Standards development ==

The IEEE formed the "IEEE 802.3 Industry Connections Ethernet Bandwidth Assessment Ad Hoc", to investigate the business needs for short and long term bandwidth requirements. IEEE 802.3's "400 Gb/s Ethernet Study Group" started working on the generation standard in March 2013. Results from the study group were published and approved on March 27, 2014. Subsequently, the IEEE 802.3bs Task Force started working to provide physical layer specifications for several link distances. The foundational IEEE 802.3bs standard defining lanes, signaling and optical media options was approved on December 6, 2017. • at least 500 m over single-mode fiber (400GBASE-DR4) using 4 parallel strands of fiber each at • at least 2 km over single-mode fiber (400GBASE-FR8) using 8 parallel wavelengths (CWDM) each at • at least 10 km over single-mode fiber (400GBASE-LR8) using 8 parallel wavelengths (CWDM) each at • 8 and 16 lane chip-to-chip/chip-to-module electrical interfaces (400GAUI-8 and 400GAUI-16) • Ethernet • at least 500 m over single-mode fiber (200GBASE-DR4) using 4 parallel strands of fiber each at • at least 2 km over single-mode fiber (200GBASE-FR4) using 4 parallel wavelengths (CWDM) each at • Ethernet • Provide a physical layer specification supporting operation over eight wavelengths capable of at least 40 km of SMF (400GBASE-ER8) 802.3cw project • Provide a physical layer specification supporting operation on a single wavelength capable of at least 80 km over a DWDM system (400GBASE-ZR) Dual polarization 16-state quadrature amplitude modulation (DP-16QAM) with coherent detection is proposed. The project was canceled in 2024. 802.3db project • Ethernet • Define a physical layer specification that supports operation over 2 pairs of MMF with lengths up to at least 50 m (200GBASE-VR2) • Define a physical layer specification that supports operation over 2 pairs of MMF with lengths up to at least 100 m (200GBASE-SR2) • Ethernet • Define a physical layer specification that supports operation over 4 pairs of MMF with lengths up to at least 50 m (400GBASE-VR4) • Define a physical layer specification that supports operation over 4 pairs of MMF with lengths up to at least 100 m (400GBASE-SR4) 'IEEE P802.3db 100 Gb/s, 200 Gb/s, and 400 Gb/s Short Reach Fiber Task Force' 802.3df project • Adds 800G Ethernet rate and specifies port types using existing 100G per lane technology IEEE P802.3df Objectives for Ethernet and 400G and 800G PHYs using lanes 802.3dj project • Adds Ethernet rate and specifies port types using new per lane technology. IEEE P802.3dj Objectives for Ethernet and 200, 400 , and PHYs using lanes 802.3ds project • Adds 200, 400, 800 Gbit/s and 1.6 Tbit/s MMF PHYs with 30m and 50m reach. IEEE P802.3ds Objectives for 200 Gb/s per Wavelength MMF PHYs 200G port types 400G port types 800G port types 1.6T port types == See also ==