CPO (Co-Packaged Optics): A Key Technology Path for Optical
Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) is emerging as a critical technological path for optical interconnects in AI data centers.
Optical Module Products for Computing Centers
Optical modules are essential for high-speed, low-latency, and energy-efficient data transmission in modern computing centers, supporting bandwidths from 400G to 1.6T and beyond.
Overview of Optical Modules
Optical modules convert electrical signals into optical signals for transmission over fiber, enabling high-bandwidth connectivity within and between data centers. They are critical for AI, cloud, and hyperscale computing environments where copper interconnects are insufficient for distances beyond 10 meters due to bandwidth and latency limitations (Marvell) .
Key Technologies and Standards
- PAM4 Modulation: Used in modules like OSFP-2*DR4-MPO12 and OSFP-VR8-MPO12, achieving single-channel data rates of 106.25 Gbps, suitable for 400G and 800G Ethernet in data centers (Allrun Opti) .
- Silicon Photonics: Enhances energy efficiency and supports hyperscale and green data centers by integrating optical components on silicon substrates (Allrun Opti) .
- Coherent and Coherent-lite DSPs: Enable long-distance, high-bandwidth transmission with error correction, supporting interconnects from tens of meters to thousands of kilometers (Marvell) .
Emerging Optical Interconnect Architectures
- Linear-drive Pluggable Optics (LPO): Removes DSPs for purely analog optical links, reducing power consumption and latency, ideal for closed-system AI and HPC clusters (NADDOD) .
- Near-Package Optics (NPO): Places optical engines close to processing units (GPU, NPU, or switch chips) to minimize signal loss and maximize bandwidth, supporting 800G and above (NADDOD) .
- Co-Packaged Optics (CPO): Integrates optical engines directly with switch ASICs for ultra-high bandwidth and energy efficiency, though still evolving in standardization (McKinsey) .
Product Examples
- Huawei StarryLink Modules: Pluggable, flexible solutions for diverse interface requirements in data center networks (Huawei) .
- Allrun Opti OSFP Modules: Hot-swappable modules with integrated VCSEL and PD arrays, supporting 50–500m transmission over single-mode or OM4 fiber, with power consumption ranging from 14W to 16W (Allrun Opti) .
- Marvell Optical DSP Modules: Enable 400G, 800G, and 1.6T pluggable modules with low latency and high energy efficiency for AI and cloud data centers (Marvell) .
Considerations for Computing Centers
- Bandwidth Requirements: Choose modules based on intra-data-center (short-reach) or inter-data-center (long-reach) needs.
- Power Efficiency: Emerging LPO and NPO architectures reduce power consumption compared to traditional DSP-based modules.
- Compatibility and Standards: Ensure compliance with OSFP, QSFP-DD, or other MSA standards for interoperability.
- Thermal Management: Modules like NPO allow independent thermal control, critical for high-density deployments (NADDOD) . Optical modules are rapidly evolving to meet the demands of AI, cloud, and hyperscale computing, with innovations in modulation, packaging, and integration driving higher bandwidth, lower latency, and improved energy efficiency.
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