Question of the Day
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Why push both 6.4T co-packaged optics and 12.8T pluggable optics in the same AI platform?
Take-away CPO and pluggables target different layers: CPO minimizes electrical reach for power/latency near chips, while 12.8T pluggables preserve modular interoperable upgrades.
Coherent is pushing both 6.4T co-packaged optics and 12.8T pluggable optics within the same AI platform to address different needs in AI-scale data centers. The 6.4T co-packaged optics solutions, demonstrated at OFC 2026, utilize silicon photonics and InP lasers to provide a scalable architecture option suited for integration close to processors, optimizing for low power and high performance [3], [4]. On the other hand, the 12.8T pluggable solutions offer modularity and ease of deployment across existing infrastructure, making them adaptable to broader networking needs and interoperability scenarios [1], [2]. This combination allows for flexible deployment strategies that can optimize both new builds with emerging technology and the gradual upgrading of existing infrastructure, enhancing overall system bandwidth and efficiency [1], [2].
- Coherent highlights AI datacenter optics at OFC 2026 | COHR Stock News stocktitan.net (opens in new tab)
- Coherent to Unveil Breakthrough AI-Scale Optical globenewswire.com (opens in new tab)
- Coherent Demonstrates Multiple Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) globenewswire.com (opens in new tab)
- Coherent shows 6.4T CPO, 400G lanes at OFC 2026 | COHR Stock News stocktitan.net (opens in new tab)