Marvell and Lumentum to Demonstrate Optical Circuit Switching for Next-generation AI Scale-up Infrastructure

Key Terms

optical circuit switching technical

Optical circuit switching is a network technique that creates a dedicated path for data by routing light signals end-to-end across fiber optics, like reserving a private highway lane so a convoy can travel without stops or slowdowns. For investors it matters because it can dramatically increase raw bandwidth, lower latency and energy use, and simplify data-center and carrier networks — all factors that affect capital spending, operating costs, and the ability to handle surges in traffic.

PAM4 technical

PAM4 is a digital signaling method that sends information by using four distinct voltage or light levels instead of the usual two, letting each transmitted symbol carry two bits of data. Think of it like a radio knob with four clear positions instead of just on/off; it boosts transmission speed without needing extra wires or spectrum but is harder to read reliably, so it matters to investors because it drives demand for higher-performance chips, better cables and optics, and can affect product costs, margins and upgrade cycles in networking and data-center markets.

telemetry technical

Telemetry is the automatic collection and transmission of measurements from remote devices, systems, or patients to a central system for monitoring and analysis—like a car sending engine, speed and location data back to a dashboard. For investors it matters because telemetry provides real-time evidence of product performance, safety and user behavior, helping assess revenue potential, operational risk, regulatory compliance and whether a product is meeting market demand.

optical-electrical-optical conversions technical

Optical-electrical-optical conversions are the process of turning a light-based data signal into an electrical signal, processing or amplifying it, and then converting it back into light for transmission through optical fiber. Think of it like translating a spoken message into a written note to check or boost it, then speaking it aloud again. Investors care because each conversion adds cost, delay and power use, and influences network capacity, equipment spending and profit margins.

Live OFC Demonstration to Showcase Low Latency, Flexible, Energy-efficient Network Fabrics for Hyperscaler AI Data Centers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OFC 2026 – Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions and Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LITE), a market-leading designer and manufacturer of optical and photonic products, today announced a live demonstration of Marvell^® optical connectivity solutions interoperating with Lumentum’s optical circuit switching (OCS) platform. The integrated, rack-level system will be showcased in the Marvell booth (#1600) at OFC 2026, taking place March 17-19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

As AI workloads continue to drive unprecedented growth in data center traffic, network architectures are rapidly evolving to deliver higher bandwidth, lower latency and greater power efficiency. OCS enables direct optical paths between endpoints to support scalable, high-signal-integrity, real-time data movement and ultra-low-latency connectivity across large AI fabrics, while reducing power consumption and eliminating intermediate packet processing and optical-electrical-optical conversions.

The demonstration will feature Marvell optical connectivity solutions, including Aquila 1.6T coherent-lite DSPs, Ara 1.6T PAM4 optical DSPs, and the COLORZ® 800 ZR/ZR+ DCI module interoperating with the Lumentum R300 OCS. The combination of advanced Marvell optical DSPs with the R300’s scalable, low-loss switching architecture enables dynamic, high-bandwidth optical paths that lower latency, reduce power consumption and increase overall network efficiency. The system will also incorporate Marvell RELIANT™, an end-to-end advanced telemetry, analytics and intelligence platform designed to deliver real-time visibility, predictive insight and automated optimization across the Marvell connectivity portfolio.

“AI is redefining every layer of the data center stack, and connectivity is at the center of that transformation,” said Xi Wang, senior vice president and general manager, Connectivity Business Unit at Marvell. “By demonstrating Marvell optical connectivity solutions interoperating with Lumentum’s OCS platform, we’re showcasing how tomorrow’s AI networks can achieve massive gains while delivering breakthrough gains in performance, power efficiency and architectural agility.”

“AI scaling is pushing conventional packet-based networks beyond their practical limits,” said Peter Roorda, general manager, Switching at Lumentum. “The R300 optical circuit switch delivers large-port-count, software-controlled optical connectivity that enables predictable low-latency paths while reducing the power overhead associated with traditional switching layers. Our demonstration with Marvell illustrates how circuit switching and advanced DSP technologies can be combined to build scalable, high-performance AI fabrics.”

About Marvell

To deliver the data infrastructure technology that connects the world, we’re building solutions on the most powerful foundation: our partnerships with our customers. Trusted by the world’s leading technology companies for over 30 years, we move, store, process and secure the world’s data with semiconductor solutions designed for our customers’ current needs and future ambitions. Through a process of deep collaboration and transparency, we’re ultimately changing the way tomorrow’s enterprise, cloud and carrier architectures transform—for the better.

About Lumentum

Lumentum (NASDAQ: LITE) is a global leader in optical and photonic technologies that power the networks and infrastructure behind AI, cloud computing, and next-generation communications. Built on decades of photonics innovation, Lumentum delivers high-performance lasers, modules, and optical subsystems that enable scalable, energy-efficient data center connectivity, advanced telecom networks, industrial manufacturing, and sensing applications. Headquartered in San Jose, California, the company operates R&D, manufacturing, and sales facilities worldwide. Learn more at www.lumentum.com.

Marvell and the M logo are trademarks of Marvell or its affiliates. Please visit www.marvell.com for a complete list of Marvell trademarks. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

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Media Contacts:

George Millington

Marvell

pr@marvell.com

Victoria McDonald

Lumentum

media@lumentum.com

Source: Marvell Technology, Inc.