Terabit Ethernet, also referred to as TbE, is a term used to describe Ethernet speeds that are above 100 Gbps. It represents the next level of Ethernet technology beyond the more common 10GbE and 40GbE speeds. Terabit Ethernet is designed to provide even faster data transmission rates, making it suitable for high-performance applications and data centers.
IEEE Project Objectives
The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) has set specific objectives for Terabit Ethernet.
These objectives include:
- Support MAC data rates of 400 Gbit/s and 200 Gbit/s.
- Preserve the Ethernet frame format utilizing the Ethernet MAC.
- Preserve the minimum and maximum frame size of the current Ethernet standard.
- Support a bit error ratio (BER) of 10^13, which is an improvement over the 10^12 BER specified for previous Ethernet speeds like 10GbE, 40GbE, and 100GbE.
- Support for OTN (Optical Transport Network) to transport Ethernet across optical transport networks.
- Optional support for Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE).
802.3bs Project
The 802.3bs project is a specific IEEE project that defines physical layer specifications supporting 400 Gbit/s Ethernet, which falls under the category of Terabit Ethernet.
Recent Developments
There have been advancements in Terabit Ethernet technology by various companies. For example, Cisco has developed switches with 400 GbE of bandwidth, and Microchip has unveiled the industry’s first Terabit-scale secure Ethernet PHY family with port aggregation for enterprise and cloud interconnect.
Future Outlook
Terabit Ethernet continues to evolve, and its adoption is expected to increase as the demand for higher data transmission speeds grows. It has the potential to play a crucial role in supporting high-performance applications and data-intensive tasks in various industries.