Keysight Technologies and Coherent Unveil Breakthrough 200G Multimode VCSEL Technology at OFC 2025

The 200G per lane VCSEL technology promises to enhance data transfer rates significantly, providing critical support for the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) services while simultaneously reducing both power consumption and capital expenditure associated with short-reach data interconnects. As data centers grapple with exponentially growing data transfer needs driven by AI/ML, the cost and efficiency of optical interconnects have become paramount concerns.

The introduction of 200G multimode VCSELs brings with it a suite of benefits that position this technology as a game-changer in the realm of optical communications:

The innovative 200G multimode demonstration features Keysight’s cutting-edge wideband multimode sampling oscilloscope technology, combined with the M8199B 256 GSa/s Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) and Coherent’s 200G multimode VCSEL. In this setup, the M8199B AWG drives a 106.25 GBaud PAM4 electrical signal into the Coherent VCSEL, with the resulting PAM4 optical signal output measured on a wideband multimode scope that displays the eye diagram. This demonstration serves to validate the feasibility and capabilities of Coherent’s new VCSEL technology, as well as Keysight’s proficiency in characterizing and validating such advancements.

Lee Xu, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Datacom Business Unit at Coherent, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Keysight, stating, “Keysight has been a trusted partner and a leader in test instrumentation technology, providing advanced test solutions to us. We rely on Keysight products, such as the M8199B Arbitrary Waveform Generator, to validate our latest transceiver designs.” He emphasized the importance of their collaboration in advancing optical communications with products based on 200G VCSEL technology.

Dr. Joachim Peerlings, Vice President and General Manager of Keysight’s Network and Data Center Solutions Group, also highlighted the significance of this technological advancement. “We are pleased with the progress the industry is making in bringing 200G multimode technology to market,” he stated. “Our close collaboration with Coherent enabled another milestone in high-speed connectivity. The industry will benefit from a more efficient and cost-effective technology to address their business-critical AI/ML infrastructure deployment in the data center.”

Keysight invites industry professionals and interested parties to join their experts at OFC, scheduled for April 1-3, 2025, at Booth #1301 in San Francisco. Attendees can expect live demonstrations of the latest innovations in coherent optical technology, showcasing the transformative capabilities of the 200G multimode VCSEL.

As data centers continue to evolve and expand to meet the growing demands of AI and ML applications, the collaboration between Keysight Technologies and Coherent Corp. stands as a testament to the importance of innovation in the optical communications space. This revolutionary technology not only promises to enhance data transfer rates but also aims to do so in a more power-efficient and cost-effective manner, setting the stage for the future of data connectivity.