Development of wireless optical communication module: 5G network, 25G/100G optical module is the trend.
At the beginning of 2000, the 2G and 2.5G networks were under construction. The base station connection began to cut from the copper cable to the optical cable. The 1.25G SFP optical module was used at the beginning, and the 2.5G SFP module was used later.
The 2008-2009 3G network began construction, and the demand for base station optical modules jumped to 6G.
In 2011, the world entered the 4G network construction, and the predecessor mainly used 10G optical modules.
After 2017, it is gradually evolving to a 5G network, jumping to a 25G/100G optical module. The 4.5G network (ZTE called Pre5G) uses the same optical module as the 5G.
Comparison of 5G network architecture and 4G network architecture: In the 5G era, the increase in the middle pass is expected to increase the demand for optical modules.
The 4G network is from the RRU to the BBU to the core computer room. In the 5G network era, the BBU function may be split and divided into DU and CU.The original RRU to BBU belongs to the prequel, the BBU to the core computer room belongs to the return, and the 5G adds the middle pass.
How to divide the BBU has a greater impact on the optical module. 3G is a domestic equipment manufacturer with some gaps in the international market, the 4G era and foreign Qiping, the 5G era began to lead.Recently, Verizon and AT&T announced that they will start commercial 5G in 19 years, one year earlier than China. Before that, the industry believed that mainstream suppliers would be Nokia Ericsson, and finally Verizon chose Samsung. The overall planning of domestic 5G construction is stronger, and it is better to predict some. Today, it mainly focuses on the Chinese market.
5G front transmission module: 100G cost is high, currently 25G is the mainstream
The predecessor 25G and 100G will coexist. The interface between the BBU and the RRU in the 4G era is CPRI. In order to cope with the high bandwidth requirement of 5G, 3GPP proposes a new interface standard eCPRI. If the eCPRI interface is adopted, the bandwidth requirement of the preamble interface will be compressed to 25G, thus reducing the light. Transmission cost.
Of course, the use of 25G will bring a lot of problems. Some functions of the BBU need to be moved up to the AAU to do signal sampling and compression, so that the AAU becomes heavier and larger. The AAU is hung on the tower, which has higher maintenance cost and better quality risk. Large, equipment vendors have been working to reduce AAU and power consumption, so it is also considering the 100G solution, reducing the AAU burden. If the price of 100G optical modules can be effectively reduced, equipment vendors will still prefer 100G solutions.
5G transmission: large difference between optical module options and quantity requirements
Different operators have different networking modes. Under different networking, the selection and quantity of optical modules will be greatly different. Customers have raised the demand of 50G, and we will actively respond to customer needs.
5G return: coherent optical module
The backhaul will use a coherent optical module with an interface bandwidth of over 100G. It is expected that 200G coherence will account for 2/3 and 400G coherence will account for 1/3. From the previous pass to the middle pass to the back pass,the convergence of the level, the return of the optical module usage is relatively small, but the unit price is higher, from the amount of money and the equivalent.
Evolution of industrial competition pattern: the next three years is the era of increased competition
Large-scale shipment of 4G optical modules will last for a long time, but the unit price is very low. This market has been developed for several years, and the overall market space is not particularly large.
The global 4G optical module suppliers are mainly domestic manufacturers. Nokia and Ericsson also purchase mainly domestic manufacturers. When 4G optical modules are just starting to compete, several foreign manufacturers participate, such as Finisar and Oclaro, and compete for the third year. Basically, it has withdrawn, leaving only Chinese manufacturers, such as Hisense, Guangxun, and Huagong Zhengyuan (Sorcer also has some).
5G base station optical module, there are currently about 5 or 6 samples for customer samples. It is expected that there will be several companies to participate in it. In 2018, the sample test will reach about 10, but the customer does not have enough resources to measure so many. Each product is theoretically tested in five, and three of them have basically passed the risk of delivery. The maximum number of certifications to five is very saturated, so 10 in 2018 is expected to eliminate 5 remaining, and these 5 are carried out in 2019. The initial race, quality, delivery and cost control, it is estimated that after 2019, there will be about 3 major suppliers left, 2018-2019 will be the most intense stage of 5G optical module market screening, and the market pattern will be stable after 2019.