Optical Networking Supercycle - ALL the Tech You NEED to know

The podcast explores the optics and networking super cycle, focusing on connectivity bottlenecks in data centers and the increasing demand for faster interconnects between GPUs. It draws parallels between the optics market and the HBM market, noting the limited number of suppliers and the resulting undersupply and pricing power. The discussion covers scale across (connecting entire data centers), scale out (connecting GPUs within a data center building), and scale up (connecting GPUs within a single rack). Co-packaged optics are examined as a solution to save energy by bringing optical-to-electrical conversion closer to the switch. Companies like Lumentum and Coherent are highlighted for their roles in laser manufacturing, with emphasis on the demand-supply imbalance in indium phosphide lasers. The conversation also touches on optical circuit switches (OCS) and their growing adoption in data centers.