Corporate Updates
HYWICOM Unveils FRAEO 16T2 to Meet Urgent 1.6T Testing Demands
Shanghai, China · March 28, 2025 — HYWICOM, a global leader in optical communication testing solutions, today announced the launch of its FRAEO 16T2 — Multi-port 1.6Tbps Ethernet Testing Platform, powered by 224G SerDes technology. This release follows the company’s recent announcement of the world’s first 800G network tester tailored for LPO module validation, further solidifying its role in meeting the urgent testing demands of AI infrastructure transitioning to 1.6Tbps interconnectivity.
FRAEO 16T2 Highlights:
Modular 3-slot design with flexible configuration of up to three independent 1.6T test ports
Support for 1.6T OSFP1600, OSFP-RHS, and QSFP-DD form factors
4.8T traffic testing bandwidth with advanced thermal management enable reliable 3x 1.6T concurrent testing
Full Ethernet traffic testing: 8x 200GE, 4x 400GE, 2x 800GE
Comprehensive testing of optical modules, AOC, AEC, and breakout applications
Exclusive CMIS 5.2-3.0 full-compliance test suite
The 1.6Tbps Era Demands Robust Testing Solutions
On March 18, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announced at GTC 2025 that the GB300 — based on the Blackwell Ultra architecture — will adopt CX-8 network interfaces, mandating 1.6Tbps (224G SerDes) optical modules as standard. This upgrade accelerates AI infrastructure’s shift to 1.6Tbs interconnects.
However, critical gaps persist in testing solutions:
Legacy testers using 112G SerDes (800G bandwidth) cannot validate 224G PAM4 SerDes-based 1.6T systems.
Current testers only support OSFP form factor, while AI NICs require OSFP-RHS, and future deployments may adopt QSFP-DD.
1.6T modules consume >30W, doubling that of 800G modules. This brings great challenges on testers' thermal design.
Traditional BERTs/Layer-2 BERT testers fail to: 1) detect burst errors causing packet loss; 2) analyze FEC error symbol distribution under real-world traffic; 3) connect directly to switches for interoperability testing.
Switch environments introduce variables like channel loss, voltage variations, and frequency offsets. Testers without stress testing capabilities will miss critical failure modes.
Immature 1.6T ecosystem (DSPs, optics, SerDes tuning) require advanced co-debugging with modules. Current testers lack diagnostics and debugging tools, forcing engineers into painful "Blind Debugging."
Users report cluttered GUIs with test results and critical parameters scattered across multiple windows.
Testers impose very expensive connector replacement fees and multi-month repair cycles.
FRAEO 16T2: Bridging the 1.6Tbs Testing Gap
Addressing these challenges, HYWICOM innovated the FRAEO 16T2 — Multi-port 1.6Tbps Ethernet Testing Platform based on 224G SerDes-based platform.
1. Modular Three-Slot Architecture Design
The FRAEO 16T2 adopts a modular architecture design, enabling users to flexibly tailor their configuration based on budget and requirements while ensuring seamless future upgrades. The three slots operate independently, with each slot supporting a 1.6T testing port. This design allows for a total capacity of up to 3x 1.6T ports.
2. OSFP + RHS + QSFP-DD Form Factor Support
Each slot’s testing interface can be flexibly configured as OSFP1600 or OSFP-RHS to meet user requirements. For example, it can simulate NVIDIA GB300 NIC interfaces and 1.6T switch interconnection scenarios. Future upgrades will add support for 1.6T QSFP-DD form factors.
3. 4.8T Traffic Bandwidth & Advanced Thermal Design
The FRAEO 16T2 delivers 4.8T bandwidth, enabling three independent 1.6T ports to operate simultaneously without interference. It supports single-port self-loopback testing and multi-port bidirectional traffic generation and monitoring. Excellent thermal design on the FRAEO 16T2 ensures sufficient cooling for the optics even under full 3x 1.6T load.
4. Full Ethernet Protocol Support + True FEC Validation
Comprehensive testing for 8x 200GE, 4x 400GE, 2x 800GE Ethernet protocols, including real-world traffic simulation, line-rate traffic generation/monitoring, and adjustable traffic bandwidth/packet lengths. Multi-layer testing covers:
PHY Layer: SerDes Tx parameter tuning, Rx adaptation
FEC Layer: FEC error symbol distribution, FEC margin analysis
PCS/MAC/IP Layers: Bit error insertion, alarm injection/detection
FEC symbol distribution in long-duration testing of a 1.6T optical module under real-world Ethernet traffic
5. 1.6T AOC/AEC, Breakout & Switch/NIC Interoperability Testing
6. Optical Module Stress Testing with CMIS Full-Compliance Suite
Hardware emulates switch electrical characteristics to replicate real-world stress conditions. Industry's first CMIS 5.2-3.0 (1500+ test items) & SFF 8636 compliance validation. Stress test suites include:
Voltage adjustment
Ethernet frequency offset
I²C stress testing
7. Advanced Debugging Tools & Outstanding Technical Support
HYWICOM provides comprehensive debugging tools and excellent engineering support, eliminating "Blind Debugging" challenges faced by tester users.
8. Intuitive Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
Adapts the acclaimed FRAEO 8800 HMI with:
Single-page test result visualization
Zero-learning-curve operation
Seamless Chinese/English language switching
9. Multi-User Concurrent Testing
Each 1.6T port operates as an independent resource and multiple users can share the multi-port resources. This enables 100% resource utilization with zero conflict. Example:
User 1: Module burn-in via Port 1
User 2: Switch testing via Port 2
10. Split Architecture Reduces TCO
Modular design separates the main frame from the interfaces, lowering long-term upgrade and connector replacement costs. Domestic R&D/manufacturing ensures short repair cycles.
The release of HYWICOM’s FRAEO 16T2 marks a critical milestone as AI infrastructure rapidly advances into the 1.6Tbps era, delivering robust support for the indispensable testing solutions required in this ecosystem. HYWICOM will continue collaborating closely with upstream and downstream partners across the industry chain to empower full lifecycle validation and testing — from R&D to mass production — for 1.6Tbps infrastructure, accelerating the upgrade and deployment of AI, data centers, and optical transport systems.
HYWICOM offers the industry’s most comprehensive testing solutions for 800G and cutting-edge 1.6T applications, spanning four flagship product series:
Four Product Series
FRAEO Series
Designed for R&D and lab testing
Covers 1.6T, 800G, 800G LPO, 400G, and 100G Ethernet traffic testing
PIANO Series
Up to 8-port 800G portable tester
Optimized for field testing, debugging, and live demonstrations
TANGO Series
Multi-port 400G network protocol analyzer
Tailored for telecom applications, testing 10G to 800G Ethernet/OTN
SWIFO Series
Up to 12-port 800G traffic tester
Built for 800G optical module production-line testing and 800G switch validation
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About HYWICOM
HYWICOM, located in the famous Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai, China, specializes in providing comprehensive testing solutions for AI network connectivity, high-speed Ethernet, and Optical Transport Network (OTN). We have innovated four product families of test platforms with great success in the market. They are PIANO , FRAEO, TANGO, and SWIFO, providing complete coverage of test needs from 1.6T, 800G, 400G, 200G, 100G to 1G Ethernet, OTN, and coherent optical communications.
HYWICOM has exclusive ownership of all intellectual property rights through independent R&D. We have earned honors such as National High-Tech Enterprise, Innovative Enterprise, and SRDI Enterprise (SRDI: Specialized, Refined, Differentiated, Innovative). The company is committed to integrity and corporate social responsibility, earning the title of "Shanghai Contract-Honoring and Credit-Trusted Enterprise." Additionally, we have obtained ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certification, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certification, and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification.
