As enterprises, cloud providers and service operators scale to meet the demands of bandwidth-hungry applications, the need for smarter, faster and more efficient interconnect solutions has never been greater. At the heart of this is the growing emphasis on Data Centre Interconnect (DCI) infrastructure that can deliver high-capacity transmission, minimise latency and optimise network resources.
DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ from Smartoptics is a compact, intelligent open line system that offers the performance of advanced Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) in the simplified form of a passive multiplexer. Tailor-made for today’s DCI challenges, this platform provides up to 800G per wavelength, supports multiple modulation formats and ensures long-reach performance of up to 160 km. It is, in every sense, a future-proof solution engineered for simplicity and scale.
The Challenge: Scaling DCI Without Complexity
DCI environments are under pressure. With traffic volumes doubling every 12 to 18 months, organisations face a persistent need to upgrade throughput while avoiding excessive infrastructure cost, power consumption and management overhead.
Traditional DWDM systems, while high-performance, often come with trade-offs—bulky transponders, intensive configuration requirements and a lack of flexibility when scaling. What today’s operators require is a solution that delivers the core benefits of DWDM (long reach, high capacity, low latency) but without the operational burden.
That’s exactly what the DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ delivers.
Performance Meets Simplicity: A New Breed of Open Line System
At its core, the DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ is designed to meet the evolving requirements of modern DCI networks. Supporting coherent 100G to 800G DWDM signals, including modulation formats like QPSK, 8QAM and 16QAM, the unit offers 150GHz channel spacing across 32 channels. This makes it optimised for high-speed links using 800G transceivers, positioning it as a perfect match for the next generation of optical networking.
Key capabilities include:
- Up to 160 km reach, depending on signal type and modulation, enabling long-distance connectivity between metro or regional data centres without regeneration.
- Zero-touch provisioning, which simplifies deployment and enables fast time-to-service.
- Automated setup, reducing configuration errors and lowering operational complexity.
- Integrated diagnostics via pluggable OSC port and built-in OTDR filters, streamlining fault detection and ongoing performance monitoring.
By integrating intelligence typically found in active DWDM gear into a 1U form factor, the DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ provides an ideal middle ground: the ease-of-use of a passive mux with the added control and visibility of a modern DWDM system.
High-Speed Support Across the Spectrum
The DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ is engineered to address a wide range of coherent signals, from legacy 100G through to next-gen 800G. This includes flexible support for different signal modulation techniques:
- QPSK (Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying): High-performance with extended reach and low error rates.
- 8QAM (8-level Quadrature Amplitude Modulation): Balanced performance with higher spectral efficiency.
- 16QAM: Optimised for shorter distances with maximum bandwidth utilisation.
This versatility ensures that the platform can be deployed across a variety of use cases and future migration paths, without having to swap out hardware as data rates increase.
Designed for Operational Efficiency
One of the most defining characteristics of the DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ is its operational simplicity. With growing network complexity, IT teams are seeking infrastructure solutions that don’t require extensive training or specialised DWDM expertise.
This solution delivers on that front with:
- Zero-touch turn-up, allowing teams to deploy faster with fewer manual processes.
- Remote manageability, ensuring minimal on-site intervention.
- Compact 1U footprint, saving valuable rack space in dense data centre environments.
Whether it’s a hyperscaler, a colocation provider or an enterprise with critical inter-data centre requirements, the DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ reduces both the cost and complexity of scaling optical transport.
Intelligent Monitoring with Built-In OTDR
Troubleshooting fibre issues in high-density environments is often like finding a needle in a haystack. Smartoptics’ inclusion of an Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) filter means operators can pinpoint fibre faults and degradations in real time—without disrupting services or requiring external testing equipment.
Combined with the pluggable Optical Supervisory Channel (OSC) port, the DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ becomes not just a transport tool, but a diagnostic platform that helps teams monitor health and ensure service availability 24/7.
A Foundation for Open Networking
Like the broader Smartoptics portfolio, the DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ embraces the principles of open networking. Designed to work with coherent pluggable optics and standards-based interoperability, it empowers operators to:
- Avoid vendor lock-in
- Leverage disaggregated networking strategies
- Build flexible, modular optical infrastructures
As open networking continues to gain traction across the industry, having a DWDM line system that supports a vendor-neutral approach is more valuable than ever.
The Bottom Line: Built for Now and What’s Next
The DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ is a powerful reflection of where optical networking is headed—toward compact, scalable and intelligent systems that simplify operations while supporting the explosive bandwidth growth of tomorrow.
For organisations looking to:
- Expand DCI capacity quickly and efficiently.
- Future-proof their optical layer for 400G/800G upgrades.
- Minimise power, footprint and OpEx.
- Reduce provisioning time and increase network visibility.
…the DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ delivers on every front.
At IDS, we help organisations meet their evolving networking goals. Whether you’re building out a new DCI architecture or upgrading legacy transport layers, our team is ready to help you design a solution that’s ready for what’s next.
Talk to us today about the DCP-M32-CSO-ZR+ and how it fits into your broader open networking strategy.
