Coherent Introduces Optical Transceivers Optimized for Optical Circuit Switch Applications

Rhea-AI Summary

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.

Positive

• 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

Negative

• None.

Insights

Network Infrastructure Specialist

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 3% insertion loss while maintaining compliance with existing standards (400G FR4, 2x400G FR4, and 2x400G LR4-6), Coherent is effectively removing a key deployment barrier for OCS technology.

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.

AI Infrastructure Analyst

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 

FAQ

What new products did Coherent (COHR) announce for data centers?

Coherent announced optical transceivers optimized for OCS applications, including 400G FR4, 2x400G FR4, and 2x400G LR4-6 standards in QSFP-DD and OSFP form factors.

What is the maximum reach of Coherent's (COHR) new OCS-optimized transceivers?

The new transceivers provide reaches up to 6 kilometers, specifically designed for large hyperscale data centers housing AI/ML clusters.

How do Coherent's (COHR) new transceivers address the OCS insertion loss problem?

The transceivers accommodate an extra 3 dB of insertion loss while meeting IEEE-defined network insertion losses, solving the additional loss introduced by optical circuit switches.

What future product is Coherent (COHR) planning to release in the OCS-optimized line?

Coherent plans to release an OCS-optimized 1.6T FR8 transceiver in the near future.