Corning and Broadcom co-packaged optics pact targets AI data center opportunities
What are co-packaged optics?
Co-packaged optics is a technology that directly integrates optical components into a switch ASIC package to address next-generation bandwidth and power challenges. CPO addresses the problem of overloading the number of optical modules after ultra-high computing power, and the optical engine is moved near the switching chip to reduce the transmission distance and improve the quality of high-speed electrical signal transmission.
Corning is partnering with Broadcom to explore how co-packaged optics (CPO) technology can help data centers increase processing capacity.
As part of the pact, Corning will supply optical components for Broadcom’s Bailly CPO system, a CPO-based 51.2 Tbps Ethernet switch.
The two companies claim this combination will deliver “significant improvements in optical interconnection density and power savings,” making it ideal for large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) clusters.
Broadcom’s Bailly CPO system incorporates eight silicon photonics-based, 6.4 Tbps optical engines co-packaged with Broadcom’s StrataXGS® Tomahawk®5 Ethernet switch chip. Corning is now a qualified supplier of the optical infrastructure needed to bring fibers to these optical engines.
The fiber harnesses that comprise this optical infrastructure include connectors for the front plate and external laser modules, single-mode and polarization-maintained fibers, and fiber array units (FAUs) that connect the fibers to the optical engines with high precision and reliability.
Corning continues to enhance its presence in the data center networking market.
Besides collaborating with Broadcom on its CPO product development, Corning has also launched the CPO FlexConnect™ Fiber, a single-mode fiber engineered for superior bend performance while mitigating multi-path interference (MPI) impairments to enhance the overall system performance of the optical infrastructure within a CPO system.
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CPO deployments coming closer to reality
According to a recent Cignal AI report, co-packaged optics (CPO) are migrating to actual network deployments. However, the research firm cautioned in its latest Active Insight report that large-scale CPO deployment is not expected for three to five years, but some initial deployments will start in 2026. Although technical and manufacturing challenges hinder high-volume CPO, its adoption is inevitable for specific applications. Hyperscalers and Nvidia, which have the scale and vertical integration to test out proprietary concepts, will drive early volume deployments of CPO. Initial volume deployments will be proprietary, and innovation will be prioritized before standardization. These deployments will originate at large hyperscalers and Nvidia, which has the scale and vertical integration to take on the sizable technical risks.
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Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.