Coherent Introduces Optical Transceivers Optimized for Optical Circuit Switch Applications
Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR) has unveiled new pluggable optical transceivers specifically designed for data centers using optical circuit switches (OCSs). The innovation addresses the additional 3 dB insertion loss introduced by OCSs in AI and machine learning applications.
The company has adapted three optical standards to create transceivers that meet both IEEE-defined network insertion losses and OCS-related losses. The new lineup includes 400G FR4, 2x400G FR4, and 2x400G LR4-6 standards in QSFP-DD and OSFP form factors, supporting reaches up to 6 km for hyperscale data centers. Coherent also plans to release an OCS-optimized 1.6T FR8 transceiver in the future.
These new transceivers maintain compatibility with conventional transceivers when OCS is not used, while also working with other OCS-optimized transceivers, providing deployment flexibility.
Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR) ha presentato nuovi trasmettitori ottici pluggable specificamente progettati per i data center che utilizzano switch ottici a circuito (OCS). Questa innovazione affronta la perdita di inserzione aggiuntiva di 3 dB introdotta dagli OCS nelle applicazioni di intelligenza artificiale e apprendimento automatico.
L'azienda ha adattato tre standard ottici per creare trasmettitori che soddisfano sia le perdite di inserzione definite dall'IEEE sia quelle relative agli OCS. La nuova gamma include standard 400G FR4, 2x400G FR4 e 2x400G LR4-6 nei fattori di forma QSFP-DD e OSFP, supportando distanze fino a 6 km per data center hyperscale. Coherent prevede anche di rilasciare in futuro un trasmettitore 1.6T FR8 ottimizzato per OCS.
Questi nuovi trasmettitori mantengono la compatibilità con i trasmettitori convenzionali quando non viene utilizzato l'OCS, funzionando anche con altri trasmettitori ottimizzati per OCS, offrendo flessibilità di distribuzione.
Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR) ha presentado nuevos transceptores ópticos enchufables diseñados específicamente para centros de datos que utilizan interruptores de circuito óptico (OCS). Esta innovación aborda la pérdida de inserción adicional de 3 dB introducida por los OCS en aplicaciones de inteligencia artificial y aprendizaje automático.
La empresa ha adaptado tres estándares ópticos para crear transceptores que cumplen tanto con las pérdidas de inserción definidas por el IEEE como con las pérdidas relacionadas con los OCS. La nueva línea incluye estándares 400G FR4, 2x400G FR4 y 2x400G LR4-6 en formatos QSFP-DD y OSFP, soportando distancias de hasta 6 km para centros de datos hyperscale. Coherent también planea lanzar un transceptor 1.6T FR8 optimizado para OCS en el futuro.
Estos nuevos transceptores mantienen la compatibilidad con los transceptores convencionales cuando no se utiliza OCS, al mismo tiempo que funcionan con otros transceptores optimizados para OCS, brindando flexibilidad en la implementación.
Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR)는 광 회로 스위치(OCS)를 사용하는 데이터 센터를 위해 특별히 설계된 새로운 플러그형 광 트랜시버를 공개했습니다. 이 혁신은 AI 및 머신 러닝 애플리케이션에서 OCS가 도입하는 추가 3 dB 삽입 손실 문제를 해결합니다.
회사는 IEEE에서 정의한 네트워크 삽입 손실과 OCS 관련 손실을 모두 충족하는 트랜시버를 만들기 위해 세 가지 광 표준을 조정했습니다. 새로운 제품군에는 400G FR4, 2x400G FR4 및 2x400G LR4-6 표준이 QSFP-DD 및 OSFP 폼 팩터로 포함되어 있으며, 하이퍼스케일 데이터 센터를 위해 최대 6km의 거리 지원이 가능합니다. Coherent는 향후 OCS 최적화된 1.6T FR8 트랜시버를 출시할 계획입니다.
이 새로운 트랜시버는 OCS가 사용되지 않을 때 기존 트랜시버와의 호환성을 유지하며, 다른 OCS 최적화 트랜시버와도 작동하여 배치 유연성을 제공합니다.
Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR) a dévoilé de nouveaux transceivers optiques plug-in spécialement conçus pour les centres de données utilisant des commutateurs de circuits optiques (OCS). Cette innovation répond à la perte d'insertion supplémentaire de 3 dB introduite par les OCS dans les applications d'intelligence artificielle et d'apprentissage automatique.
L'entreprise a adapté trois normes optiques pour créer des transceivers qui respectent à la fois les pertes d'insertion définies par l'IEEE et les pertes liées aux OCS. La nouvelle gamme comprend les normes 400G FR4, 2x400G FR4 et 2x400G LR4-6 dans des formats QSFP-DD et OSFP, supportant des distances allant jusqu'à 6 km pour les centres de données hyperscale. Coherent prévoit également de lancer à l'avenir un transceiver 1.6T FR8 optimisé pour OCS.
Ces nouveaux transceivers maintiennent la compatibilité avec les transceivers conventionnels lorsque l'OCS n'est pas utilisé, tout en fonctionnant également avec d'autres transceivers optimisés pour OCS, offrant ainsi une flexibilité de déploiement.
Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR) hat neue steckbare optische Transceiver vorgestellt, die speziell für Rechenzentren mit optischen Schaltkreisen (OCS) entwickelt wurden. Die Innovation adressiert den zusätzlichen 3 dB Einfügeverlust, der durch OCS in KI- und Machine-Learning-Anwendungen eingeführt wird.
Das Unternehmen hat drei optische Standards angepasst, um Transceiver zu schaffen, die sowohl die vom IEEE definierten Netzwerkeinfügeverluste als auch die mit OCS verbundenen Verluste erfüllen. Die neue Produktreihe umfasst 400G FR4, 2x400G FR4 und 2x400G LR4-6 Standards in QSFP-DD und OSFP Formfaktoren, die Reichweiten von bis zu 6 km für hyperscale Rechenzentren unterstützen. Coherent plant auch die zukünftige Einführung eines OCS-optimierten 1.6T FR8 Transceivers.
Diese neuen Transceiver bleiben mit herkömmlichen Transceivern kompatibel, wenn OCS nicht verwendet wird, und arbeiten auch mit anderen OCS-optimierten Transceivern zusammen, was Flexibilität bei der Bereitstellung bietet.
- New product line addresses specific market need in AI/ML data centers
- Products maintain backward compatibility with existing standards
- Technology enables deployment flexibility without compromising data center footprint
- Future product roadmap includes higher capacity 1.6T transceiver
- None.
Insights
Coherent's new OCS-optimized transceivers represent a significant technical advancement for high-performance data centers deploying optical circuit switches. By engineering these pluggable modules to accommodate an additional
The technical significance here can't be overstated. Data center architects previously faced a difficult tradeoff when implementing OCSs - either accept reduced link distances or deploy additional amplification equipment. These new transceivers eliminate that compromise, maintaining the full 2-6 km reach capabilities even with an OCS in the optical path. The dual compatibility with both conventional and OCS-optimized transceivers is particularly clever, allowing for flexible deployment models and migration strategies.
The QSFP-DD and OSFP form factors supporting 400G and 800G connectivity align perfectly with current data center transformation needs, while the planned 1.6T FR8 transceiver demonstrates Coherent's forward-looking product roadmap. By focusing on multi-wavelength standards commonly used in AI/ML clusters, Coherent is precisely targeting high-growth infrastructure segments where performance optimization delivers meaningful value.
This product launch directly addresses a critical infrastructure challenge in modern AI compute environments. As AI/ML workloads increasingly drive data center networking requirements, optical circuit switches have emerged as valuable components for reducing system-wide cost, latency, and power consumption - three metrics that directly impact AI training and inference economics.
The significance of Coherent's approach is in removing technical barriers to OCS adoption without forcing architectural compromises. Hyperscale operators can now implement these switches while maintaining their physical data center footprints and existing link distances. This enables more flexible AI cluster designs that can be dynamically reconfigured through OCS technology, potentially improving resource utilization across expensive GPU/accelerator resources.
What's particularly important is the interoperability aspect - these transceivers work in both OCS and non-OCS environments, creating a practical migration path for existing infrastructure. The support for reaches up to 6 km is strategically important as AI clusters often span multiple data halls in large facilities. With the forthcoming 1.6T FR8 transceiver, Coherent is also positioning for the next generation of AI infrastructure where bandwidth demands continue to escalate dramatically.
SAXONBURG, Pa., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR), a global leader in photonics, announces the introduction of a set of pluggable optical transceivers optimized for use in data centers that incorporate optical circuit switches (OCSs).
OCSs are being increasingly adopted in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications to reduce cost, latency, and power consumption of these architectures, but the OCS introduces up to 3 dB additional insertion loss beyond what was envisioned in the standards that typically define these transceivers. Coherent has adapted three of the most relevant optical standards to produce transceivers that meet the original IEEE-defined network insertion losses in addition to the insertion losses caused by an OCS.
At OFC 2025, Coherent will unveil transceivers that not only meet the requirements of the 400G FR4, 2x400G FR4, and 2x400G LR4-6 standards, but also accommodate an extra 3 dB of insertion loss. These transceivers cover high density 400G and 800G needs in QSFP-DD and OSFP form factors using the multi-wavelength standards that are typically used in AI/ML clusters. They provide reaches up to 6 km, geared toward the large hyperscale data centers that house such clusters. In the near future, Coherent also plans to release OCS-optimized 1.6T FR8 transceiver.
“When we introduced our OCS at OFC in 2024, we realized that our AI customers wanted to deploy these switches without compromising the physical footprints of their data centers,” said Dr. Steffen Koehler, Senior Vice President and General Manager, OCS Business Unit, at Coherent. “That means that they wish to continue to deploy 2 km and 6 km links, even when the link passes through an OCS. With these new optical transceivers, the OCS can be accommodated without the need for any compromise on distance or link budget.”
OCS-optimized transceivers from Coherent interoperate with conventional transceivers compliant with the applicable standards in situations where an OCS is not used, while also being compatible with OCS-optimized transceivers in cases where an OCS is used, offering great flexibility in deployment.
For more information on these OCS-optimized optical transceivers or digital liquid-crystal based OCSs from Coherent, visit booth #1519 at OFC 2025 in San Francisco April 1-3.
About Coherent
Coherent empowers market innovators to define the future through breakthrough technologies, from materials to systems. We deliver innovations that resonate with our customers in diversified applications for the industrial, communications, electronics, and instrumentation markets. Coherent has research and development, manufacturing, sales, service, and distribution facilities worldwide. For more information, please visit us at coherent.com.
Media Contact:
innovations@coherent.com
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