Press Release

Company leverages latest technologies alongside leading industry partners to deliver high performance and cost-effective CPO switch

SAN JOSE, Calif. August 11, 2021 - Quanta Cloud Technology (QCT) A leading data center hardware solution provider, today announced its proof-of-concept (POC) co-packaged ethernet switch, QuantaMesh T9064-IXC, to accelerate data center transmission with next-generation technology. With its own design capabilities, QCT integrated its electrical and optical technology resources into its networking switch product roadmap to push innovation to the edge and to introduce a first generation industry-leading co-packaged optics (CPO) ethernet switch. 

Especially during the COVID-19 outbreak, the demand for higher bandwidth has grown more than ever and connecting the serializer/deserializer (SerDes) to pluggable optics electrically becomes more complex and requires more power. Due to this demand, traditional designs with pluggable modules become limited by the increase in total system power and can’t achieve the densities required for future generation switches. However, with a CPO solution, switches can connect optics directly to the networking silicon. The co-packaging removes the constraints and creates synergy by bringing two independent technologies closer together and thereby saving significant power. As a result, CPO can enable higher densities, reduce power, and enable continued scalability of network bandwidth and performance. With the debut of their latest switch, QCT collaborated with Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI), TE Connectivity, and other industry partners to develop this CPO OptoASIC switch system, scalable from the current 25.6 Tbps to 51.2 Tbps and higher.

A successful POC of this first generation CPO-based switch design now paves the path for the next-generation of CPO switches, aiming to provide 51.2 Tbps total bandwidth. Power analysis on that system is showing that a CPO-based switch design is significantly more power-efficient than a traditional design with pluggable optics. Considering the demand for bandwidth generated by the broad usage and application of data centers; i.e. AI, deep learning, etc. QCT expects to lead the bandwidth expansion in this technology and will continue to provide a one-stop shop for its end customers.

“Co-packaged optics brings a new era and approach to expand transmission bandwidth and I am pleased that QCT has invested in this technology with our collaborative ecosystem,” said Mike Yang, Senior Vice President of Quanta Computer and President of QCT.  “Together, we are enabling our customers to explore the future of computing and networking with cost-effective optics that require less power dissipation, better thermal management, and greater flexibility for hyperscale data center connectivity.”

“TE has been pleased to work with QCT and AOI on this CPO project where we contributed our more than 50 years of experience and technology for socketing high performance products” said Nathan Tracy, Technologist and Manager of Industry Standards at TE. “TE’s CP fine pitch socket interposer technology enables integration of small chipset and optical engine component technologies into high value co-package assemblies with reworkable and interoperable interfaces that have the signal integrity capabilities to support 100 Gbps and even 200 Gbps applications. As the industry continues to investigate CPO opportunities, TE looks forward to contributing next generation electrical, mechanical and thermal enabling solutions.”

“AOI has contributed our CPO and ELS (external light source) modules along with our technical capabilities and design expertise to this joint co-packaged switch project with QCT and TE Connectivity,” comments Joshua Yeh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Asia Operations of Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. “With our capabilities in SiPh based transceiver design and our experience with COBO On-Board Optics, we are addressing the new challenges brought forward by co-packaged optics and its ecosystem.”

The current working 25.6 Tbps switch is up and running and will be incorporated into service racks for next level demonstrations. For more information, please visit the product website.

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About Quanta Cloud Technology (QCT)

Quanta Cloud Technology (QCT) is a global data center solution provider that combines the efficiency of hyperscale hardware with infrastructure software from a diversity of industry leaders to solve next-generation data center design and operational challenges. QCT serves cloud service providers, telecoms and enterprises running public, hybrid and private clouds.

Product lines include hyperconverged and software-defined data center solutions as well as servers, storage, switches and integrated racks with an ecosystem of hardware components and software partners. QCT designs, manufactures, integrates and services its offerings via its own global network. The parent of QCT is Quanta Computer, Inc., a Fortune Global 500 corporation. www.QCT.io 

ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY

TE Connectivity is a $13 billion global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications, and the home. With nearly 80,000 employees, including more than 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 150 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat and Twitter.

ABOUT APPLIED OPTOELECTRONICS

Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical products, including components, modules and equipment. AOI's products are the building blocks for broadband fiber access networks around the world, where they are used in the internet datacenter, CATV broadband, telecom and FTTH markets. AOI supplies optical networking lasers, components and equipment to tier-1 customers in all four of these markets. In addition to its corporate headquarters, wafer fab and advanced engineering and production facilities in Sugar Land, TX, AOI has engineering and manufacturing facilities in Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China. For additional information, visit www.ao-inc.com

Media Contact:

Danny Chang (QCT)

[email protected]