An over 25-Gb/s-throughput optical interconnection for high-speed ATM switching systems

An interconnection crisis is expected in next-generation information systems, such as massively parallel computers and large-capacity ATM switches. Optical interconnections, which replace metal cables with optical fiber ones, are the most promising way for overcoming this expected bottleneck in electronic interconnections. Keen competition is thus underway to develop high-throughput, compact, and cost-effective optical interconnect modules. This paper overviews the application domains of optical interconnections in telecom systems and describes NTT's activities in this field. The hot topics on NTT's ongoing "ParaBIT" project, which aims to develop an over 25-Gb/s-throughput 40-channel optical interconnect module, are also presented.