Internet Protocol (IP) backbones, the foundation of the public Internet, use high-speed fiber optics to connect the major routers across the Internet, enabling networks to communicate with each other. Amid the explosion in video, data and mobile traffic, 100 G rates are necessary for these backbones to enable a generation of video and multimedia services to their customers. Demonstrating the increasing role of the network in people's lives, the most recent Cisco Visual Networking Index Forecast indicates that global IP traffic has increased eightfold over the past five years and will increase threefold over the next five years.

However, to make 100 G widely deployable, its cost and power must be significantly reduced. Solutions based on Cisco CPAK technology are engineered to meet rapidly increasing bandwidth demands while improving port density and reducing power consumption requirements to deploy 100 G services.

Cisco has combined advanced optics with leading-edge integrated circuit (IC) technology to create the industry's first production complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transceivers, which fully comply with applicable 100 G industry standards. The small footprint and reduced power consumption significantly increase face-plate density for 100 G pluggable optics, helping enable network operators to cost-effectively support traffic levels predicted for the zettabyte era. Most importantly, by using mature and highly reliable CMOS fabrication technology, Cisco is able to take advantage of more than 40 years and $400 billion in industry investment in proven CMOS IC technology, mitigating risks associated with esoteric fabrication technologies.

Cisco Systems Inc.