Cisco ONS-SC-Z3-1570= 100G ZR+ Optical Transceiver: High-Capacity, Long-Haul Connectivity for Next-Gen Networks

​​Technical Overview and Target Applications​​

The Cisco ONS-SC-Z3-1570= is a ​​100G ZR+ coherent optical transceiver​​ designed for high-performance metro and long-haul DWDM networks. Operating in the ​​1570nm wavelength range​​, this QSFP28 module supports ​​100G Ethernet​​ and ​​OTU-4​​ protocols over distances up to 120km, making it ideal for data center interconnects (DCI), 5G transport, and cloud service provider backbones. It combines ​​coherent DSP technology​​ with advanced forward error correction (FEC) to maximize spectral efficiency and minimize latency.

​​Core Technical Specifications​​

​​Optical Performance​​

• ​​Data Rate​​: 100Gbps (DP-QPSK modulation) with ​​oFEC (Open FEC)​​, achieving a net coding gain of 10.5 dB.
• ​​Reach​​: 120km over G.652.D single-mode fiber, compliant with ​​OIF 100G ZR+​​ and ​​ITU-T G.709.1​​ standards.
• ​​Wavelength Tunability​​: C-band tunable (1528–1567nm) with 75 GHz channel spacing for flexible grid DWDM.
• ​​Power Consumption​​: <5W, leveraging ​​Cisco Silicon One​​ DSP for energy efficiency.
• ​​Sensitivity​​: -22 dBm @ BER 1E-15, enabling operation in high-loss environments.

​​Compliance and Compatibility​​

• ​​Regulatory​​: Meets GR-253-CORE, NEBS Level 3, and RoHS directives.
• ​​Platform Support​​: Cisco NCS 2000, Nexus 9300-FX3, and ASR 9000 routers.

​​Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases​​

​​Hyperscale Data Center Interconnects​​

A global cloud provider reduced latency by 35% on 100km DCI links using ONS-SC-Z3-1570= modules, replacing legacy 10G grey optics with ​​400G ZR+ coherent aggregation​​ (4x100G channels).

​​5G XHaul Transport​​

A European mobile operator achieved ​​99.999% availability​​ on its 5G midhaul network by deploying these transceivers in Cisco NCS 1004 platforms, meeting 3GPP’s ​​TAE (Time Alignment Error)​​ requirements for URLLC.

​​Integration with Cisco Optical Ecosystem​​

​​Cisco Crosswork Automation​​

• ​​Zero-Touch Provisioning​​: Auto-configures wavelength and FEC settings via NETCONF/YANG templates.
• ​​Performance Monitoring​​: Tracks OSNR, Q-factor, and nonlinear effects (e.g., XPM, SPM) in real time.

​​NCS 2000 Coherent Routing​​

• ​​FlexGrid ROADM Integration​​: Dynamically allocates 75 GHz or 150 GHz slots for multi-vendor DWDM interoperability.
• ​​Layer 0 Encryption​​: Extends MACsec to optical transport via ​​Cisco Secure Optical Channel (SOC)​​.

​​Installation Best Practices​​

​​Step-by-Step Deployment​​

1. ​​Fiber Characterization​​: Validate PMD <0.1 ps/√km and attenuation <0.22 dB/km via OTDR/OSA.
2. ​​Transceiver Activation​​:

   configure terminal  
   interface HundredGigE 0/1/0  
   modulation-format dp-qpsk  
   fec-mode open  
   wavelength 1570.00  

3. ​​Performance Validation​​: Use show controllers coherentDSP 0/1/0 to confirm OSNR >16 dB and pre-FEC BER <1E-3.

​​Common Configuration Errors​​

• ​​FEC Mismatch​​: Deploying oFEC on links requiring proprietary FEC triggers uncorrectable errors.
• ​​Dispersion Overcompensation​​: Incorrect DCM settings cause Q-factor degradation (>1 dB penalty).

​​Addressing Critical User Concerns​​

​​Q: Is ONS-SC-Z3-1570= compatible with third-party DWDM systems?​​

Yes, but with limitations:

• Requires ​​OpenROADM 3.0​​ compliance for multi-vendor interoperability.
• Third-party amplifiers may need ≥23 dB gain to compensate for ZR+’s lower output power (-1 dBm).

​​Q: How to troubleshoot “LOS (Loss of Signal)” alarms?​​

1. Clean LC/APC connectors with ​​Cisco CIP-9 Fiber Cleaner​​.
2. Verify show interfaces HundredGigE 0/1/0 optics reports Tx power between -1 dBm and +3 dBm.
3. Check for chromatic dispersion residuals >2,000 ps/nm.

​​Q: Can it support 400G via breakout cables?​​

No. For 400G, use ​​ONS-QDD-400G-ZR-S=​​ with QSFP-DD form factor and 16QAM modulation.

​​Procurement and Lifecycle Support​​

For enterprise and service provider deployments, ​​“ONS-SC-Z3-1570=” is available at itmall.sale​​, offering:

• ​​Cisco Smart Net Total Care​​: 24/7 TAC support with optical network architects.
• ​​Extended Warranty​​: 5-year coverage with 2-hour SLA for critical outages.

​​Lessons from Hyperscale Deployments​​

An Asian hyperscaler reduced DCI costs by 40% using ONS-SC-Z3-1570= modules for 100G ZR+ links. However, initial deployments in high-altitude regions required tunable DCMs to compensate for temperature-induced PMD fluctuations—a reminder that environmental factors remain pivotal in long-haul design.

​​Strategic Insights for Network Architects​​

The ONS-SC-Z3-1570= exemplifies that ​​coherent optics are redefining optical economics​​. While vendors tout “plug-and-play” simplicity, real-world deployments demand meticulous link engineering. I’ve seen teams waste months debugging “faulty” modules, only to discover a 0.2 dB connector loss was the culprit. In coherent systems, every decibel counts—design with 3–5 dB excess margin, validate fiber health annually, and never underestimate the cost of dirty connectors. The future of optical networking isn’t just faster; it’s smarter. Embrace DSP analytics, because in the age of ZR+, the transceiver isn’t a component—it’s the network’s intelligence.