SiFotonics Technologies have recently officially launched low-cost 25GAPD TO-Can T6AP20M3-05 for the next-generation 100G-PON optical access technology. With a sensitivity of -28.5dBm (BER=1e-3) at 1310nm, it boasts the highest performance in the industry. This cost-effective high-performance solution is expected to facilitate the realization of 100G fiber access  for households.

The increasing demands for substantial bandwidth in emerging applications such as virtual reality, smart homes, 4K/8K ultra-high-definition video, and the Internet of Things are accelerating. As one of the primary solutions for international standards in optical access technology in the post-10G-PON era, 100G-PON offers a single-wavelength rate of 25G and a single-fiber capacity of 100G, delivering ultra-high bandwidth of over 1G per user. This represents a minimum 40-fold increase in access speed compared to current GPON/EPON technologies. Currently, 100G-PON has been initiated in standardization organizations like IEEE/FSAN/ITU-T, and it is expected to be  introduced within the next 3-5 year. However, its critical component, the 25G APD, has not matured until now.

The T6AP20M3-05 is based on SiFotonics' self-developed 25G Ge/Si APD chip, AP2005, and employs  a traditional low-cost TO-46 package. Silicon, being one of the best avalanche materials, has a small excess noise factor and a large gain-bandwidth product. This allows Ge/Si APD to achieve higher sensitivity than traditional III-V APD under high-speed (10Gb/s or higher) operating conditions. Additionally, SiFotonics' Ge/Si APD is manufactured by an 8-inch CMOS wafer foundry, offering high yield and cost advantages, making it highly suitable for the future large-scale 100G-PON optical access market.

Sensitivity test results for T6AP20M3-05:
Back-to-back sensitivity of 25G APD TO-Can T6AP20M3-05(λ=1309.14nm, ER=9.5dB, 25.78Gbps, 2^31-1, NRZ, w/o CDR, 25oC)

The T6AP20M3-05 achieves a 1310nm sensitivity of -28.5dBm (BER=1e-3), surpassing III-V devices and representing the highest performance currently available in the industry. Since its launch, the product has received strong market feedback, with over thirty top-tier companies in the industry becoming customers within just two months. Its outstanding performance has been validated by numerous customers. During the recent IEEE standards meeting, it garnered support from many leading international manufacturers.

Dr. Pan Dong, CEO of SiFotonics, stated, "Currently, there are hundreds of millions of users in the market for fiber-to-the-home capacity. These users will upgrade in the future, with some already beginning to upgrade to 10G-PON. We can provide 10G to 100G chip and the component technologies with a similar cost structure. This will help drive existing users to upgrade to 10G and make the pathway to further evolve to 100G more realistically clear".