2019-06-12
RF IC firm Rafael Micro (6568) announced a 10G trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) chip aimed at 5G and large data-center markets. The supply chain says the new product has entered design-in and is expected to ramp shipments from 2021, contributing to revenue growth.
Rising bandwidth demand from 5G mobile communications, cloud, data centers and remote work is pushing governments, carriers and data centers to expand higher-bandwidth optical networks — not only for enterprise fiber, but also into FTTX, 5G mobile and large data-center cloud networks.
Rafael Micro sees 5G and data-center demand driving high-speed optical markets and has launched a 10G TIA chip conforming to 10G SFP+, 10G EPON and XG/XGS-PON optical standards.
Optical modules convert optical and electrical signals in optical communication systems and are basic building blocks of optical devices. Production first makes optical chips and other components into optical devices, then packages them into an optical fiber module.
Rafael Micro notes that a module has transmit and receive sides: the transmit path includes lasers and drivers; the receive path includes a photodetector with a TIA and a limiting amplifier. The TIA converts the received optical signal into a voltage for the limiting amplifier, which then outputs the data.
CEO Ted Sun said that in the 5G era consumers will experience high-speed, high-volume network services such as remote office, telemedicine, 4K/8K video and automated safe driving. PON is the main technology for fiber-to-the-home telecom networks; EPON and GPON are widely adopted by operators worldwide. As PON specifications and equipment mature, operators are upgrading to 10G PON to meet new services and bandwidth demand.
