PAM4 DSPs Battle LPO for OFC Mindshare
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUI47uebY9IgI2T9ILwF7p3cwNmG5jjWUDrpBWzdAdzdzKj6ShwwbHMU3KI9gKKFM7lL5ikhubSptOJkqkirZmCFmS_NAxscQykJ-2Z_WODz0hnn0GLOH4je7PwvVtIblrOCdFW4emJLOoQaD8Ax9M_2icjrHMF_7uZVby0tIOKHFqFzZnoAZRc6WiOAQ/w640-h394/Broadcom%20optical%20roadmap.png)
Last year, module vendors demonstrated the first 1.6T optical modules, and this year DSP vendors looked ahead to second-generation 1.6T module designs. Whereas the first 1.6T modules connect a 16x100G host interface to 8x200G optics (16:8), next-generation designs will work with forthcoming 200G/lane switch ASICs, as shown in the top row of the figure. Broadcom disclosed its Sian2 1.6T 8:8 DSP at a March investor event, and Marvell followed by announcing its similar Nova 2 at OFC. Not wanting to be left out of the 1.6T landscape, MaxLinear pre-announced Rushmore, which similarly targets 8:8 designs. Although the company withheld product details, it disclosed Samsung Foundry as its manufacturing partner for Rushmore, setting it apart from competitors using TSMC. Source: Broadcom Progress on linear pluggable optics (LPO) and other less-than-full-DSP variants was evident at 100G/lane, but vendors also set the stage for 200G/lane. Last November, Credo Semiconductor was first to announc