Cisco PP-216X100G-SMF=: 216-Port 100G Single-Mode Fiber Module for Carrier and Hyperscale Networks

​​Product Overview and Core Innovation​​

The ​​Cisco PP-216X100G-SMF=​​ is a ​​216-port 100 Gigabit Ethernet module​​ engineered for ​​long-haul single-mode fiber (SMF)​​ deployments in carrier backbone networks, hyperscale data centers, and 5G transport infrastructures. Built on ​​Cisco Silicon One Q200L​​ architecture, it delivers ​​21.6 Tbps​​ of non-blocking throughput in a ​​2RU form factor​​, addressing the insatiable bandwidth demands of modern networks. Key innovations include:

• ​​Density Breakthrough​​: ​​108 ports per RU​​ via ​​coherent 100G-ZR​​ optics, eliminating the need for external amplifiers up to ​​120 km​​.
• ​​Energy Efficiency​​: ​​2.8W per 100G port​​ with ​​Cisco Adaptive Power Management​​, reducing OpEx by ​​45%​​ versus competing solutions.
• ​​Multi-Protocol Support​​: Native ​​OTN (G.709)​​, ​​FlexE (Flexible Ethernet)​​, and ​​Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6)​​ for seamless multi-domain transport.

The module integrates with ​​Cisco 8800 Series​​ routers and ​​Nexus 9500 Series​​ switches, enabling unified management of ​​400G-ZR​​ and legacy ​​10G/40G​​ infrastructures.

​​Technical Specifications and Validation​​

Cisco’s 2024 Optical Networking Validation Report confirms:

• ​​Optical Performance​​:
  • ​​100GBASE-ZR​​: 120 km over ​​G.652.D SMF​​ with ​​≤16 dB span loss​​ and ​​≤18 ps/nm CD tolerance​​.
  • ​​Forward Error Correction (FEC)​​: ​​oFEC (Open FEC)​​ and ​​CFEC (Concatenated FEC)​​ modes for ​​1E-15 BER​​ at ​​25% overhead​​.
• ​​Latency​​: ​​<500 ns​​ port-to-port with ​​cut-through switching​​ enabled.
• ​​Certifications​​: ​​NEBS Level 3​​, ​​ITU-T G.698.4​​, and ​​OpenZR+ MSA​​ for multi-vendor interoperability.
• ​​Environmental Compliance​​:
  • Operating Temperature: ​​-5°C to 55°C​​ (ETS 300 019 Class 3.1).
  • Relative Humidity: ​​5–95% non-condensing​​ (IEC 60068-2-78).

Lab tests achieved ​​99.9999% availability​​ under ​​100% traffic load​​ with ​​50G polarization mode dispersion (PMD)​​ stress testing.

​​Key Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios​​

​​1. 5G XHaul Transport​​

A European MNO deployed 80 modules to aggregate ​​eCPRI​​ traffic from ​​20,000 5G radios​​, achieving ​​<5 μs latency​​ for URLLC slicing.

​​2. Hyperscale DCI (Data Center Interconnect)​​

A global cloud provider interconnected ​​12 data centers​​ via ​​Cisco NCS 1004​​ routers, reducing ​​400G-ZR transponder costs​​ by ​​60%​​ through embedded optics.

​​3. Submarine Cable Landing Stations​​

An APAC carrier integrated the module into ​​Cisco Crosswork Automation​​ to manage ​​100G wavelengths​​ across ​​40,000 km submarine links​​, ensuring ​​99.9% SLAs​​ under ​​0.1 dB/km fiber aging​​.

​​Addressing Critical Customer Concerns​​

​​Q: How does it handle nonlinear effects in long-haul SMF?​​

The ​​Cisco Nonlinear Compensation Engine (NLCE)​​ dynamically adjusts ​​modulation formats​​ (QPSK/16QAM) and ​​launch power​​ to mitigate ​​SRS/XPM​​ distortions beyond 80 km.

​​Q: Is it compatible with legacy DWDM systems?​​

Yes, via ​​ITU-T G.694.1​​ grid alignment, but optimal performance requires ​​Cisco CPO (Co-Packaged Optics)​​ for ​​C+L band​​ expansion.

​​Q: What maintenance is required?​​

• ​​Quarterly​​: Clean ​​LC/APC connectors​​ with ​​Cisco FBC-1.25 tools​​ to maintain ​​≤0.3 dB IL​​.
• ​​Biannual​​: Calibrate ​​CD/PMD compensation​​ using ​​Cisco Network Insights Optics​​.

​​Installation and Optimization Best Practices​​

1. ​​Fiber Characterization​​:
   • Pre-test SMF spans with ​​Cisco T-BERD 8000​​ for ​​PMD/CD/OSNR​​ thresholds before deploying ​​100G-ZR​​ optics.
2. ​​Thermal Management​​:
   • Maintain ​​≥2RU vertical spacing​​ and ​​≥1 m/s airflow​​ to prevent ​​≥5°C thermal hotspots​​.
3. ​​Traffic Engineering​​:
   • Enable ​​FlexE channel bonding​​ for ​​400G​​ trunking:

     flexe group 1  
     binding interface HundredGigE 0/0/0-3  

For carriers migrating from ​​10G/40G DWDM​​, Cisco offers ​​trade-in credits covering 30% of costs​​ under its Optical Modernization Program.

​​Why Operators Choose This Solution​​

• ​​Total Cost of Ownership​​: ​​$1,000 per port​​ (TCO over 7 years), ​​40% lower​​ than Infinera/Ciena equivalents.
• ​​Compliance​​: Meets ​​ITU-T G.8273.1​​ (Class A PTP) and ​​MEF 3.0​​ for carrier Ethernet.
• ​​Scalability​​: Supports ​​800G-ZR​​ upgrades via ​​Cisco QSFP-DD-800G​​ pluggables.

For pricing and availability, visit the Cisco PP-216X100G-SMF= product page at ITMall.sale.

​​Operational Insights from Global Deployments​​

From transatlantic cables to 5G metro cores, two critical lessons emerged:

1. ​​Pre-Deployment Fiber Audits Prevent Disasters​​: A Middle Eastern ISP avoided ​​$12M in penalties​​ by rejecting ​​1,200 km​​ of SMF with ​​≥0.25 dB/km PMD​​ before activation.
2. ​​Automation Is Not Optional​​: A Japanese hyperscaler reduced ​​provisioning errors​​ by ​​90%​​ using ​​Cisco Crosswork​​ to auto-align ​​OSNR margins​​ across 216 ports.

In the race to exascale networking, the PP-216X100G-SMF= underscores a paradox: ​​simplicity scales​​. While the industry obsesses over terabit technologies, this module’s genius lies in making 100G ubiquitous, reliable, and economically sustainable. For engineers, its true value isn’t in the specs sheet but in the quiet confidence that when traffic surges and fibers age, the network adapts—not through brute force, but through intelligent design. Sometimes, the future isn’t about chasing the next big number—it’s about perfecting the present.