Data center interconnect

A datacenter interconnect (DCI) is a connection between data centers and between the components within them.[1][2] The goal of a data center interconnect is to provide high bandwidth in order to maximize the utility of the data center.[2] Inter data center interconnects must also be able to transmit over long distances.[2][3] By using specialized infrastructure such as optical communication and direct connection between datacenters, DCI is able to provide much higher bandwidths than typical networks.[2] This is valuable to large cloud computing companies.[4] In 2017, IEEE standards were created to support 400 GbE per wavelength optical communications.[2][5] For short range connections within a data center, optical DCI can provide the advantage over traditional DCI of not needing cables.[6][7]

Optical Technologies

Modern data center interconnects rely heavily on optical fiber communication technologies to achieve high capacity and long-distance transmission. Single-mode fiber is commonly used due to its low attenuation and ability to transmit signals over hundreds or thousands of kilometers. A key technology in DCI is Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)[8], which allows multiple data channels to be transmitted simultaneously over a single fiber by using different wavelengths of light. Combined with coherent optical transmission techniques and optical amplifiers, DWDM systems can support data rates of 400 Gbit/s and beyond per wavelength, depending on system design.[9]

Latency and Distance

Latency is a critical factor in data center interconnect performance and is primarily influenced by physical distance and transmission medium.[10] Data transmitted over optical fiber travels at approximately two-thirds the speed of light, resulting in increasing delay over longer distances.[11] For example, intercontinental connections between regions such as Europe, North America, and Asia introduce significantly higher latency compared to regional connections.[12] However, latency is not strictly proportional to distance, as network routing, switching, and infrastructure optimization can affect overall transmission time.[13] To reduce latency, operators often deploy direct fiber routes and private interconnections between data centers.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ Kanakis, Giannis; Iliadis, Nikos; Soenen, Wouter; Moeneclaey, Bart; Argyris, Nikolaos; Kalavrouziotis, Dimitrios; Spiga, Silvia; Bakopoulos, Paraskevas; Avramopoulos, Hercules (18 June 2019). "High-Speed VCSEL-Based Transceiver for 200 GbE Short-Reach Intra-Datacenter Optical Interconnects". Applied Sciences. 9 (12): 2488. doi:10.3390/app9122488.
  2. ^ a b c d e Yue, Yang; Wang, Qiang; Anderson, Jon (15 June 2019). "Experimental Investigation of 400 Gb/s Data Center Interconnect Using Unamplified High-Baud-Rate and High-Order QAM Single-Carrier Signal". Applied Sciences. 9 (12): 2455. doi:10.3390/app9122455.
  3. ^ "What is DCI?". Ciena Corporation. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  4. ^ Engebretson, Joan. "Lumen ExaSwitch Rethinks Hyperscale Interconnection with Google, Microsoft - Telecompetitor". www.telecompetitor.com. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  5. ^ Yue, Yang; Wang, Qiang; Yao, Jian; O'Neil, Jason; Pudvay, Daniel; Anderson, Jon (25 October 2018). "400GbE Technology Demonstration Using CFP8 Pluggable Modules". Applied Sciences. 8 (11): 2055. doi:10.3390/app8112055.
  6. ^ Raza, Aadil; Iqbal, Saeed; Iqbal, Muhammad; Mirza, Jawad; Ghafoor, Salman; Atieh, Ahmad (March 2023). "400 Gbps/λ PAM-4 data transmission over FSO link by employing space division multiplexing for data center interconnects using LG modes enabled VCSELs". Optical and Quantum Electronics. 55 (3): 283. Bibcode:2023OQEle..55..283R. doi:10.1007/s11082-023-04572-8.
  7. ^ Overton, Gail (2018). "Datacenter cabling bottleneck cleared via free-space optical interconnects". Laser Focus World. Vol. 54, no. 9. pp. 13–14.
  8. ^ "Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)" (PDF). Columbia University in the City of New York.
  9. ^ Corporation, Ciena. "What is WDM or DWDM?". www.ciena.com. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  10. ^ "What is latency? | How to fix latency". www.cloudflare.com. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  11. ^ "Refractive index". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2026. Retrieved https://www.britannica.com/science/refractive-index. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help); External link in |access-date= (help)
  12. ^ "Submarine Cable Map". www.submarinecablemap.com. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  13. ^ "What is Latency? - Latency Explained - AWS". Amazon Web Services, Inc. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  14. ^ Bozkurt, Ilker Nadi; Aqeel, Waqar; Bhattacherjee, Debopam (November 2018). "Dissecting Latency in the Internet's Fiber Infrastructure". arXiv. doi:10.48550/arXiv.1811.10737.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  15. ^ IEEE (2021). "International Network Generations Roadmap -Whitepaper" (PDF). IEEE Future Networks.
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