News: Optoelectronics
28 March 2025
Lumentum showcasing optical innovations for cloud, AI and networking infrastructure at OFC
In booth #2119 at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference & Exposition (OFC 2025) in San Francisco (30 March–3 April), Lumentum Holdings Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which designs and makes optical and photonic products for optical networks and lasers for industrial and consumer markets) is unveiling its latest innovations in optical networking, presenting advances in high-speed data interconnect products and technologies, optical circuit switching (OCS), high-power pump lasers, and next-generation networking technologies, enabling efficient scaling of AI-driven and cloud-scale networking architectures. Lumentum says that, with its broad portfolio of advanced optical components and indium phosphide (InP) photonic devices, it delivers high-performance, reliable solutions that support the growing demands of next-generation AI and data-center infrastructure.
In addition to product and technology demonstrations, Lumentum experts are participating in technical sessions and panel discussions throughout the event. President & CEO Michael Hurlston is also joining the CEO panel at the Optica Executive Forum on 31 March at the Marriott Marquis.
Live demos: advancing AI, cloud, and networking
- Networking for AI/ML workloads, cloud environments, and coherent data-center interconnects: Featuring three dedicated racks spanning AI/ML front-end and back-end networks, data-center interconnects (DCI), and longer-distance optical networks, Lumentum is showcasing live demonstrations of its latest photonic technologies designed to meet the growing demands of AI clusters and hyperscale cloud infrastructure. A key highlight includes its OCS technology, which enhances scalability, efficiency and power savings for AI/ML interconnects and cloud networking.
- AI/ML back-end network: 800G and 1.6T optical transceivers and OCS;
- Cloud front-end network: 400G, 800G short-reach transceivers, and 800ZR transceivers;
- DCI and long-haul networking: TrueFlex Micro Twin 2x34 integrated C and L wavelength-selective switch (WSS), 800G ZR/ZR+ pluggable modules operating across both C and L transmission bands, including transmission over > 400km fiber.
- R300 OCS: Lumentum is demonstrating its new R300 OCS, a 300x300-port solution optimized for AI cluster interconnects and intra-data-center networks. Currently sampling with hyperscale cloud customers, the R300 OCS will be available in second-half 2025. Featuring MEMS-based optical switching based on over a trillion-field mirror operating hours and hundreds of patents, it provides a power-efficient, cost-effective alternative to traditional Ethernet architectures.
Featured products and technology:
Partner collaboration with Keysight and NTT Innovative Devices
Lumentum is also demonstrating 448Gbps data transmission using 224GBaud PAM4 externally modulated laser (EML) technology in collaboration with Keysight Technologies and NTT Innovative Devices at booth #1301. Lumentum says that its high-bandwidth InP EML enables power-efficient, high-speed optical interconnects for AI and cloud infrastructure. This demonstration marks the first characterization of an InP modulator with PAM4 modulation at 448Gbps.
M2 Series pump laser: high-power amplification for next-gen optical networks
Lumentum is introducing its M2 Series 980nm fiber Bragg grating-stabilized pump modules, designed for high-power optical amplification. Featuring a dual-chip architecture with independently controlled emitters in a compact 10-pin butterfly package, the M2 series delivers total output power ranging from 800mW to 1800mW. Fully compliant with Telcordia GR-468-CORE standards, the modules are engineered for exceptional performance and reliability, supporting the growth of cloud and carrier-class optical network infrastructures.
Featured presentations and panels
Lumentum’s participation at OFC features a series of technical presentations and panel discussions highlighting the latest advancements in optical and photonic technologies:
- Technical Workshop: ‘High Power and Multi-Wavelength Laser Light Sources: How Can They Address the Needs of AI/ML Interconnects’: On 30 March (1:00-3:30pm PDT in Room 215, Level 2), Mike Larson, director of engineering development, is exploring the latest advances in high-power and multi-wavelength laser technologies and their critical role in enabling high-performance optical interconnects for AI and ML applications.
- Technical Workshop: ‘Short and Sweet: How Do We Cost-Optimize a 10 Meter Link for Scaling Up Machine Learning Clusters?’: On 30 March (4:00-6:30pm PDT in Rooms 211-212, Level 2), Matt Sysak, CTO of cloud and networking, is leading a session focused on scale up optical interconnect technology for AI clusters.
- Panel at Optica Executive Forum: On 31 March (2:30-3:40pm PDT at the Marriott Marquis), president & CEO Michael Hurlston is joining fellow industry leaders for a discussion on the future of optical communications and networking.
- Technical Paper and Presentation on ‘226 Gbps PAM4 Operation Using Differential Drive EA-DFB Laser With 2.0-Vppd Swing Over 10-km SSMF Transmission for 1.6TbE Transceivers’: On 31 March (5:45-6:00pm PDT in Room 304), optical engineer Shuhei Ohno is presenting research on high-speed optical transmission technologies designed for next-generation networking. His work showcases a differential-drive EA-DFB laser achieving 226Gbps PAM4 with a 4.8dB extinction ratio and a 2.0Vppd swing, resulting in a transmitter and dispersion eye-closure quaternary (TDECQ) of 2.9dB after 10km transmission over single-mode fiber. This advance supports power-efficient, long-reach optical links crucial for scaling 1.6TbE transceivers in AI and cloud network infrastructures.
