PSM4 MSA Group Releases Draft 1.0 of Specification

Consortium to define and promote industry-wide adoption of optical specifications for 100-400 Gb/s interconnects

The PSM4 MSA (Parallel Single Mode 4-lane Multi-Source Agreement) Group has released the Draft 1.0 specification for PSM4 links. The new specification will enable broad development and deployment of PSM4 compliant solutions, providing a low cost scalable solution for 100 Gb/s interconnects. The specification is available at www.psm4.org/specifications.html.

The PSM4 MSA group of Avago Technologies, Brocade, JDSU, Luxtera, Oclaro, and Panduit also announces the addition of several new members: Finisar, Juniper Networks, MACOM, Microsoft and US CONEC.

“Juniper Networks has joined the PSM4 MSA Group to participate in the release of the Draft 1.0 Specification,” said Jeffery J. Maki, distinguished engineer, Juniper Networks. “The PSM4 MSA Group is valuable in enabling a strong vendor base for interoperable optical modules over parallel single mode fiber at lengths up to 500m in a variety of form factors including CFP4, QSFP28 and CDFP.”

“MACOM is excited to be part of the PSM4 MSA group. This MSA has great potential to meet the power, size, and cost requirements for 100G links in the data center,” said Ray Moroney, MACOM.

"Microsoft has joined the PSM4 MSA because of the value of adopting 100 Gb/s interconnect inside our data centers,” said Yousef Khalidi, distinguished engineer, Microsoft. “The growing global demand for services and applications makes it important for Microsoft to consider technologies like parallel single-mode fiber in order to offer our customers the best experience possible."

“US Conec looks forward to partnering with industry leading companies in the PSM4 MSA to address the need for a standardized single-mode parallel optic interface,” said Alan Ugolini, product manager, US Conec. “The use of commercially available, proven single-mode MPO connectors will enable wide and rapid adoption by end-users, thereby satisfying the ever growing need for greater bandwidth over longer distances.”