Coherent Corp Unveils Game-Changing 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO Transceiver

On March 28, 2025, Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR), a leading player in the photonics industry, announced the general availability of its groundbreaking 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO transceiver. This innovative product is poised to transform metro and regional networking with its impressive 0dBm optical output power, making it the first of its kind in the industry.

The 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO is distinguished as the only high-power coherent transceiver available in the compact QSFP28 form factor. This design significantly reduces both power dissipation and network footprint, addressing critical challenges faced by network operators. Ideal for IP-over-DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) deployments, the transceiver eliminates the need for expensive muxponders and transponders, allowing operators to achieve greater efficiency and performance.

Dr. Beck Mason, Executive Vice President of Telecommunications at Coherent, emphasized the importance of this launch, stating, “Coherent continues to redefine optical networking with innovations like the high-power 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO. We designed it to enable cost-effective, energy-efficient IP-over-DWDM solutions.” The introduction of this transceiver is a strategic response to the rapid growth of the pluggable 100G coherent market, as access and enterprise networks increasingly transition from 10G DWDM technologies.

According to Scott Wilkinson, Lead Analyst at Cignal AI, “The addition of a high-power option, which enables operation over existing ROADM networks, expands the 100ZR market deeper into metro applications.” This indicates a strong outlook for the transceiver as it meets the evolving demands of modern networks.

Coherent’s new transceiver comes with an optional Tunable Optical Filter that enhances its versatility, supporting colorless ROADM configurations. This feature is particularly beneficial for network operators looking to optimize their infrastructure for varying demands.

Dr. Christoph Glingener, CTO of Adtran, highlighted the significance of higher-power coherent pluggables, noting, “Coherent’s new 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO delivers the performance needed to simplify ROADM-based transport while improving network efficiency and scalability.” This collaboration underscores the commitment between companies to advance coherent digital signal processing (DSP) technology and empower operators.

AE Natarajan, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Juniper Networks, remarked on the broader implications of the 100G ZR/ZR+ transceiver, stating, “It simplifies IP optical convergence in access, aggregation, and service edge architectures, including brownfield transformations.” This advancement is crucial for addressing capacity bottlenecks associated with bandwidth-hungry services like mobile video, autonomous vehicles, and AI inference.

The 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO is built using Coherent's vertical integration capabilities, featuring InP photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and in-house digital signal processors (DSPs). This approach not only enhances performance but also streamlines the development process, ensuring that Coherent remains at the forefront of optical networking innovation.

To showcase this revolutionary product, Coherent invites industry professionals to visit booth #1519 at the Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) 2025 conference in San Francisco from April 1-3, where attendees can learn more about the 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO and other high-performance optical networking solutions.

As Coherent continues to empower market innovators with breakthrough technologies, the launch of the 100G ZR QSFP28-DCO represents a significant step forward in the quest for more efficient and powerful networking solutions. The future of optical networking looks promising as this technology paves the way for enhanced connectivity and performance across various applications.