Beyond 100G Ethernet

With 100G technologies standardized, in the context of both Ethernet and the optical transport network (OTN), 100G router ports and 100G optical transport interfaces are commercially available. At the same time, heavily data-centric users are starting to ask for higher-rate interfaces. First speculations include 400G as well as 1T as the next possible Ethernet standards. In this article we discuss interface technology options for Ethernet and OTN beyond 100G in light of the current 100G standards, taking into account likely evolution paths of interface technologies over the next 10 years.