IEEE Standards Association Announces IEEE 802.3 Projects to Meet Industry Demands for Higher Ethernet Speeds

Projects leveraging new technologies to advance 50 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s, and 200 Gb/s, and extend reach of 25 Gb/s Ethernet

PISCATAWAY, N.J.-- May 31, 2016 -- IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, and the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA), today announced the initiation of two new IEEE 802.3^TM projects, as well as a modification to the existing IEEE P802.3bs^TM 400 Gb/s Ethernet project. These projects, authorized by the IEEE-SA Standards Board in early May, will address the growing industry demand for additional Ethernet rates for use across a broad range of applications.

“The demand for Ethernet continues to expand rapidly throughout the industry driving the need for market relevant standards to support the adoption and growth of Ethernet,” said David Law, chair, IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group. “These latest IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group projects will address the increasing needs for speeds targeted at specific application areas, and help ensure best practices are implemented through the principles of standardization.”

These projects are aligned to the next set of requirements from the data networking industry. The IEEE P802.3cc^TM project will complete the 25 Gb/s Ethernet family of physical layer specifications (PHYs). The IEEE P802.3cd^TM project will enable 50 Gb/s Ethernet for next generation server speed and next generation campus cores as well responding to the industry desire to lower costs for next generation 100 Gb/s Ethernet solutions. Both the IEEE P802.3cd and IEEE P802.3bs projects will enable 200 Gb/s Ethernet which will provide a next generation network aggregation speed.

The IEEE P802.3cc 25 Gb/s over Single-Mode Fiber Task Force will develop new 10 km and 40 km PHYs over single-mode fiber for 25 Gb/s Ethernet. The IEEE P802.3cd 50 Gb/s Ethernet, 100 Gb/s Ethernet and 200 Gb/s Ethernet Task Force will develop 50 Gb/s Ethernet as well as a set of PHYs for 50 Gb/s Ethernet, 100 Gb/s Ethernet and 200 Gb/s Ethernet that leverage common 50 Gb/s optical and electrical signaling technologies. Both copper and multimode fiber PHYs will be developed for all three Ethernet rates as well as single-mode fiber PHYs for 50 Gb/s Ethernet. The IEEE P802.3bs 400 Gb/s Ethernet project modification will expand the project to include 200 Gb/s Ethernet and 200 Gb/s single-mode fiber PHYs within its scope.

Technology specified by IEEE 802^® standards is already globally pervasive, driven by the ever-growing needs of data networks around the world. New application areas are constantly being considered that might leverage IEEE 802 standards in their networks using wireless, twisted-pair cabling, and fiber-optic cabling. To better address the needs of all of these areas, IEEE 802 standards are constantly evolving and expanding. The success of IEEE 802 standards—from their inception through today—has been based on their fair, open and transparent development process.

About the IEEE Standards Association

The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body within IEEE, develops consensus standards through an open process that engages industry and brings together a broad stakeholder community. IEEE standards set specifications and best practices based on current scientific and technological knowledge. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over 1,100 active standards and more than 500 standards under development. For more information visit http://standards.ieee.org.

About IEEE

IEEE is the largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org.