Point2 launches 5G RangeXtender, increasing network fronthaul and backhaul range

Point2 Technology said that its 5G RangeXtender allows existing high-speed fiber links to increase its coverage from 10 kilometers to 30 kilometers without the need for expensive fiber extensions and compensation filters.

On OFC 2021, Point2 Technology launched its 5G RangeXtender, which is an SFP28 module with a proprietary electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) function that can expand the coverage of the fronthaul and backhaul in 5G networks.

According to the company, the new technology not only increases the coverage of existing optical fiber transmission paths to 30 kilometers, but can also reduce capital expenditures and operating expenditures, reducing the total cost of ownership by 25%.

The core of 5G RangeXtender is the PT-E1012322 Electronic Dispersion Compensation (EDC) SoC, which combines two channels of bidirectional clock and data recovery (CDR) and EDC with CDR/retimer, and significantly compensates for dispersion and reduces errors. Bit rate.

According to Point2, the SoC has a latency of less than 16 ns, a power consumption of about 9 mW/Gb/s, and provides pattern generation and inspection, as well as local and remote loopback tests through a real-time eye scanner. The SoC is packaged in a miniature CSP, which can be easily installed in an SFP28 module.

"With the deployment of 5G, wireless operators will need to support a substantial increase in traffic, which means they need to upgrade the data rate of the fronthaul and backhaul fiber links from 10 Gb/s to 25 Gb/s, and upgrade soon To 50 Gb/s,” commented Sean Park, CEO of Point2.

Park continued, “This will require significant investment in infrastructure before revenue can be derived from it. By using a unique EDC/CDR SoC, our RangeXtender basically allows the existing fiber optic infrastructure to extend the coverage from the current 10 kilometers Increase to 30 kilometers. The result is a lower cost of ownership because it reduces the need for expensive fiber extensions, dispersion compensation filters and amplification, while improving the link performance of aging fibers."


The integrated CPU of the 5G RangeXtender EDC SoC allows integrators to easily customize the device; it can be used with the linear receiver optical assembly (ROSA) in the reference design, allowing multiple module vendors to provide this solution.

Point2 stated that it is discussing cooperation with Tier 1 module suppliers that provide a 5G ecosystem to accelerate the improvement and provide multi-source diversity. The technology currently supports 25 Gb/s solutions and is accompanied by a roadmap to provide up to 100 Gb/s for future access networks.

The 5G RangeXtender/PT-E1012322 with 25 Gb/s capability is now available for sampling and is expected to be produced in the fourth quarter of 2021.

【Editor in charge: Wei Liyan TEL: (010) 68476606】