terabit Ethernet (TbE)

Terabit Ethernet (TbE) is a future technology for Ethernet with data rates that exceed 100- gigabit Ethernet( GbE). It includes 200-gigabit Ethernet( 200GbE) and 400-gigabit Ethernet( 400GbE), although their data rates are less than 1 terabit per second (Tbit/s).

The roadmap for Terabit Ethernet will be set after 2020 and includes multiplying data rates to 800 Gbps, 1 Tbps and 1.6 Tbps. Terabit Ethernet is to be based on a technology in which 100 Gbps is transmitted over one lane. Then 400GbE could be implemented over four lanes, 1 TbE over ten lanes, and 1.6 TbE over sixteen lanes.

Work on 400GbE by the IEEE working group began in 2013, and initial results were presented in 2014. The expected IEEE standard supports only full- duplex operation since 10GbE. The Ethernet frame of 400GbE for the MAC layer will be maintained, as will the minimum and maximum frame lengths. Various 200GbE interfaces and 400GbE interfaces for multimode fibers and single mode fibers are specified.