Lumentum's optical circuit switch for AI data centres

Part 3: Data Centre Switching

The resurgence of optical circuit switches for use in data centres is gaining momentum, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) workloads that require scalable connectivity.

Peter Roorda

Lumentum is one of several companies that showcased an optical circuit switch at the OFC event in San Francisco in March.

Lumentum's R300 switch connects optically the 300 input ports to any of the 300 output ports. The optical circuit switch uses micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), tiny mirrors that move electrostatically, to direct light from an input port to one of the 300 output ports.

The R300 addresses the network needs of AI data centres, helping link large numbers of AI accelerator chips such as graphics processor units (GPUs).

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ROADMs: core role, modest return for component players

Next-generation reconfigurable optical add/ drop multiplexers (ROADMs) will perform an important role in simplifying network operation but optical component vendors making the core component  - the wavelength-selective switch (WSS) - on which such ROADMs will be based should expect a limited return for their efforts.

"[Component suppliers] are going to be under extreme constraints on pricing and cost"

Sterling Perrin, Heavy Reading

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