200 Gb/s per wavelength Multimode Fibre (MMF) optical PHYs

The following request for agenda time for a call for interest has been received from Mabud Choudhury. It will be discussed at the IEEE 802 LMSC July 2025 Plenary meeting in Madrid, Spain.

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Links comprising multimode fiber (MMF) cable and VCSEL-based transceivers have played a key role in implementing multiple generations of Ethernet data rates in data centers for short reach. Ethernet has a proven track record of reusing and leveraging technology to enable new cost-optimized solutions for broad market adoption in these short-reach applications. IEEE 802.3db and IEEE 802.3df Ethernet projects defined specifications for 100 Gb/s, 200 Gb/s, 400 Gb/s, and 800 Gb/s operation over MMF using 100 Gb/s signaling. These Ethernet standards have gained market adoption in high bandwidth, high growth artificial intelligence (AI) back-end networks, as well as front-end networks for server-attachment, due to their lower power and lower cost than other optical technologies and their longer reaches than copper technologies. The continual growth of bandwidth demand has driven the evolution of even higher Ethernet speeds, most recently with 200 Gb/s, 400 Gb/s, 800 Gb/s, and 1.6 Tb/s Ethernet using 200 Gb/s signaling specifications being developed by the P802.3dj project. Now, the technology for 200 Gb/s per wavelength VCSEL-MMF links has reached a level that suggests the time is right to study an interoperable Ethernet MMF specification that will have broad market adoption.

This is a call for interest to initiate a Study Group to explore the potential market requirements and feasibility of addressing AI/Data Center networks, and to develop a PAR and CSD for 200 Gb/s per wavelength MMF optical PHYs.

The call for interest will take place during the IEEE 802.3 Opening Plenary on the morning of Monday 28 July 2025. The vote to determine if a Study Group will be formed will take place at the IEEE 802.3 Closing Plenary on the afternoon of Thursday 31 July 2025. Payment of a registration fee is required by anyone that attends any meeting, in person or remote, held during this plenary session.

A call for interest consensus-building teleconference meeting has been scheduled to occur on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, from 14h00 to 16h00 UTC. Please note that IMAT will be used to record attendance at the call for interest consensus-building meeting, which requires a free IEEE account. If you do not already have one and wish to participate in this call for interest consensus-building teleconference meeting, please ensure that you create an IEEE account before the meeting.