From September 16-18, 2021, the 23rd China International Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE) was held at the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center. Photonteck Technology, in collaboration with its original manufacturer Shanghai HYWICOM Technology Ltd. (referred to as “HYWICOM” or “the company”), made a brilliant appearance. Currently, HYWICOM is one of only two companies globally that provides comprehensive test solutions for open decoupled optical networks. It can test all form factors of 400G pluggable coherent optical modules and all corresponding protocols (CFP2-DCO, QSFP-DD DCO, OSFP DCO; 400ZR/OpenZR+/Open ROADM) and can complete system-level testing of DCI-Box and compact WDM/OTN devices in one go (testing Ethernet client side and OTN coherent line side with one instrument). This fills the gap in the domestic 800G/400G high-speed optical communication protocol test instrument field.

A New Star in 800G/400G High-Speed Optical Communication Protocol Test Instruments Filling Domestic Gaps in Technology

HYWICOM is located in Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, Shanghai, a national technology incubation enterprise. The team has rich experience in R&D and market experience in high-speed optical communication products, proficient in various system-level applications of optical modules in data centers and operator scenarios. HYWICOM’s 800G/400G Ethernet and OTN optical transmission test instruments have filled the gap in this high-end test instrument field in China. Their products have been successfully recognized by leading optical module and optical communication equipment customers, and are widely used in R&D and production lines, as well as being exported overseas.

Currently, HYWICOM is one of only two companies globally that provides comprehensive test solutions for open decoupled optical networks. It can test all form factors of 400G pluggable coherent optical modules and all corresponding protocols (CFP2-DCO, QSFP-DD DCO, OSFP DCO; 400ZR/OpenZR+/Open ROADM) and can complete system-level testing of DCI-Box and compact WDM/OTN devices in one go (testing Ethernet client side and OTN coherent line side with one instrument).

First Appearance at CIOE with Four Products in Two Major Series

CIOE 2021 marked HYWICOM’s debut, bringing two major series and four products:

1. **FRAEO 5600 Series:** 400G network tester and optoelectronic BERT
2. **FRAEO 8000 Series:** 800G Ethernet/OTN network tester
3. **FRAEO 8800 Series:** 800G optical module network tester
4. **TANGO 8000 Series:** 800G Ethernet/OTN network protocol analyzer

The FRAEO series focuses on client-side optical module testing, covering optical modules from 10G to 800G. Designed for optical module testing, it features the most advanced hardware architecture and fully optimized software design for optical module testing. The FRAEO 5600 Series is the industry’s first optoelectronic integrated network tester and BERT product, perfectly combining a traffic tester and traditional electrical BERT. The FRAEO 8000 Series is the industry’s only all-in-one network tester integrating all mainstream optical module form factors. A single instrument meets all testing needs for 12 types of optical modules (QSFP-DD, QSFP56, QSFP28, OSFP, CFP2-DCO, CFP2, DSFP, SFP-DD, SFP56, SFP28, SFP+), supporting native dual-port 2x400G, four-port 4x200G, and six-port 6x100G simultaneous testing.

The FRAEO 8800 Series is a network tester for 800G optical modules based on 112G SerDes. It features dual-port 800G, with a test bandwidth of up to 1.6T, and supports two types of 800G optical module form factors (OSFP-800 and QSFP-DD800), supporting traffic testing for 8x100GE, 4x200GE, and 2x400GE.

The TANGO series, meaning “Test, Analyze, ‘N’ GO,” focuses on network protocol analysis and pluggable coherent optical module testing, supporting 400G Ethernet and OTN optical transmission protocol testing and analysis. It boasts powerful service testing features, including complete RFC 2544 protocol testing, various alarm insertion and monitoring, delay measurement, and service interruption time measurement. It is suitable for system manufacturers, data centers, and operators, supporting various line-side coherent optical module testing.

The TANGO 8000 series, launched at CIOE, is a milestone product representing the industry’s highest level of optical transmission protocol test instruments. It has completed interoperability testing with mainstream CFP2-DCO/400ZR QSFP-DD DCO coherent optical modules, OTN optical transmission equipment, and data center interconnect DCI-Box, and is beginning to deploy testing solutions for data centers and operators.

New Concepts and Technologies with the Best Localized Support and Services Highlight HYWICOM’s Advantages

Yang, Sales Director, introduced the following significant advantages of HYWICOM compared to existing network test instruments:

1. Innovative Design Concept:

In the era of traditional NRZ electrical signals for optical modules of 100G and below, optical module test instruments have always been electrical BERTs, using PRBS data traffic with zero bit error rate as the testing criterion for qualified optical modules. However, entering the 400G era, optical modules have adopted PAM4 modulation technology, significantly reducing the signal-to-noise ratio, making zero bit error rate impossible. Therefore, traditional electrical BERTs lose their testing basis, and network testers must be used for real service data traffic with FEC correction, conforming to Ethernet or OTN standard protocols, with zero post-FEC errors as the new testing basis. However, market network protocols were initially designed for testing system devices, with optical modules as functional accessories rather than the main test objects. Such instruments focus on higher-level protocol testing (e.g., layer three routing protocols) and system device features (e.g., overhead and alarm insertion), lacking many necessary functions and tools for optical module testing. Therefore, customers spend a lot but only get accessory testing functions.

HYWICOM keenly identified this market gap and pioneered the FRAEO series of high-cost-effective network testers tailored for optical module testing. Its hardware architecture and software design are fully optimized and tailored for optical modules as the main test objects, covering Ethernet and OTN protocols comprehensively and supporting all mainstream optical module encapsulations. It adds numerous module-specific testing tools and methods, optimizes the user interface, greatly improves testing efficiency, provides automated test program design, and offers customized services for production lines. It features faster mode switching, lighter and more integrated equipment, and lower power consumption.

2. Leading Technology:

HYWICOM’s team has extensive experience in R&D and market experience in high-speed optical communication products, accumulating numerous end-customer application cases. The instruments are developed based on these real applications, achieving “what you test is what you get” and the most comprehensive testing coverage. The company masters core technologies, has no supply and technology control risks, and offers excellent sustainability.

3. Best Localized Support and Services:

HYWICOM’s R&D and technical support teams are based domestically, providing the strongest technical support and fastest response. Any technical issue can be resolved quickly, and customized services are offered based on customer needs. HYWICOM objectively provides configurations and services based on actual customer needs, avoiding repeated charges for the same testing requirements and considering future upgrade compatibility. Additionally, for after-sales service, HYWICOM leverages local production advantages, completing repairs domestically within 1-2 weeks (compared to several months for imported instruments). Backup machines are provided during repairs to ensure uninterrupted R&D and testing.

Flagship Products Meet the Testing Needs of Operators and Data Centers for Open Decoupled Optical Networks

As operators and data centers intensify the deployment of open decoupled optical network transmission equipment (e.g., DCI-Box and compact WDM/OTN devices), using 400G pluggable coherent optical module transmission technology, the functional demand for test instruments greatly increases. The ability of test instruments to meet the network deployment needs of operators and data centers is crucial.

Yang emphasized that HYWICOM’s TANGO series fully meets the testing needs for open decoupled optical networks (e.g., DCI-Box and compact WDM/OTN devices) for operators and data centers.

The TANGO series is a network protocol analyzer within the HYWICOM instrument family, supporting both Ethernet and optical transmission OTN protocol testing and analysis, including six Ethernet rates (400GE/200GE/100GE/50GE/25GE/10GE), 400G OTN FlexO/OTUCn, 100G OTU4, and 10G OTU2. It boasts powerful service testing features, making it the best test instrument for system equipment (e.g., Ethernet switches, OTN optical transmission equipment, data center interconnect DCI) R&D testing and network field engineering commissioning.

The TANGO 8000 is the flagship product of the TANGO series, integrating all mainstream optical module interfaces, supporting PAM4 and NRZ signal and rate switching, and featuring an 800G total test bandwidth (including dual-port 400G, four-port 200G, and six-port 100G simultaneous testing). In network protocol analysis and testing, it comprehensively covers Ethernet and OTN various framing protocol analysis and line-speed traffic testing, supporting complete RFC 2544 protocol performance testing.

In service function testing, it supports service interruption time measurement, ultra-high-precision delay measurement, frequency offset adjustment, alarm insertion, and performance monitoring. The TANGO 8000 is the best test platform for pluggable coherent optical modules and DCI system equipment, supporting all form factors of pluggable coherent optical modules (CFP2-DCO/QSFP-DD DCO/OSFP DCO) and various protocols (400ZR, OpenZR+, Open ROADM), supporting various service accesses, and supporting LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) message insertion and monitoring. It provides all alarm and performance monitoring for Ethernet and OTN adaptation layers, offers sufficient power supply (total 80W) and adequate heat dissipation, supporting dual DCO coherent optical module traffic testing. The TANGO 8000 has tested mainstream coherent optical modules with the best interoperability.