Lumentum spotlighted data center-focused innovations at ECOC 2025
If there is one common theme in today’s many industries shows it is the growing level of opportunity data centers represent as operators jockey to better serve the demand for intensive AI and quantum applications.
“We are at an interesting transition point in the industry where the reach of copper is becoming more limiting while at the same time the use cases for optics continue to expand,” said Rafik Ward, chief strategy and marketing officer at Lumentum. “As AI and Cloud workloads accelerate at an unprecedented pace, the need for faster, more scalable optical solutions has never been greater.”
Building on this vision, Lumentum’s photonics and laser chip technologies power the backbone of global network infrastructure—from optical transceivers within data centers to DCI links, long-haul systems, subsea cables, and edge networks.
These solutions provide the speed, scalability, and reliability required to support today’s most demanding applications.
During the European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC) exhibition, Lumentum showcased multiple live demonstrations:
ELSFP transceivers for CPO architectures
Lumentum showcased its development of external laser source (ELS) modules in the ELSFP pluggable form factor, designed to advance co-packaged optics (CPO) architectures in high-bandwidth environments such as hyperscale data centers and AI clusters. The demonstration highlights pluggable modules incorporating Lumentum’s ultra-high-power (UHP) 1310 nm lasers, enabling next-generation switches and AI processors with integrated optical connectivity. By separating the laser source from the optical engine and placing it at the system faceplate, these modules improve thermal management and reliability, while their design enhances serviceability and modularity.
The ELSFP form factor provides higher system density, lower thermal loads, and improved lifetime performance, all while maintaining standards compliance.
"This is designed to serve as the light source for co-packaged optics,” said Ward. “Pulling from our decades-old heritage of providing pump lasers to the industry, we are refocusing our expertise to serve the data center.”
1.6T DR8 TRO OSFP Transceiver for Cloud and AI Applications
Lumentum’s 1.6T DR8 TRO OSFP pluggable transceiver module provides 8x200 Gbps data connectivity over 500 meters of single-mode fiber optics, targeting hyperscale Cloud and AI applications. Its Transmit-Retimed Optical (TRO) design offers a significantly lower power dissipation compared to a Fully Retimed Optical (FRO) transceiver module.
The key point? The ability to save 40% power when compared to the FRO transceiver module.
Extended C+L Ultrawideband Nano-iTLA
Lumentum announced its ultrawideband narrow-linewidth InP nano-iTLA. This new laser assembly provides full tunability across more than 12.4 THz, covering both the extended C- and L- L-bands, making it ideally suited to support the increased bandwidth demand driven by AI data centers, data center interconnects (DCI), metro, and long-haul networks. Building on Lumentum’s external cavity laser (ECL) technology, the ultrawideband nano-iTLA is delivered in the same compact form factor as existing solutions, with a single wideband tunable laser. It offers best-in-class narrow-linewidth performance, enabling superior signal integrity and system reach. Initial units have been delivered to key customers for evaluation in next-generation optical networks.
“Until now, if you wanted to have products that worked across the C and L bands, you typically needed at least 2 lasers,” said Ward. “This product simplifies high-capacity applications where you want to maximize bandwidth on individual fibers with minimal operational challenges.”
R64 OCS for AI Data Centers
Lumentum’s R64 OCS complements the high-port count R300 OCS and leverages decades of in-house engineering expertise in MEMS technology used widely in telecom applications.
The OCS is designed to provide unmatched performance and high reliability for AI data centers numerous benefits, including:
Low Power Consumption: At less than 150 W for a switch capable of carrying over 100Tbps of optical traffic, the R64 changes how an AI data center can scale by offering 80% power reduction compared to packet-based switches.
· Exceptional Optical Performance: MEMS technology does not require light to pass through any active medium, giving exceptionally low insertion loss and almost no polarization dependence.
· Flexible Optical Design: The R64 platform allows scaling to 72x72 ports, uni- or bi-directional operation, and full any-to-any fiber connectivity, which removes typical OCS connectivity restrictions for bi-directional applications.
· Wide Band Operation: The R64 is optimized for today’s O-band applications and brings exceptional performance in the C-band, thanks to the future-proof, bandwidth-agnostic MEMS technology.
· Ultra Stable: Lumentum’s proprietary MEMS design is inherently stable over product lifetimes, requiring no feedback mechanism. This avoids control loop dither noise from being introduced to the optical signal while reducing overall system complexity.
· Compact Footprint: The compact design packs in all required features into a 2RU form
"The 64 x 64 port optical circuit switch in a 2RU form factor is generating a lot of interest because it enables new AI applications,” explained Ward. “We believe that the MEMS-based OCS architecture provides the right combination of performance, scalability, reliability, and cost and is well-positioned to lead in this growing market.”