Behind the data center takeover of OFC

Sterling Perrin, senior principal analyst for Heavy Reading, explains why the data center and AI were the main focus areas for this year's OFC.

Kelsey Ziser, Sterling Perrin

April 2, 2024

At a Glance

The role of optics in scaling capacity demands inside the data center and lowering power consumption. (00:32)
Moving from a leaf-spine architecture to an optically switched architecture in the data center. (02:45)
New coherent pluggables for telecom operators and hyperscalers. (05:58)

Move over telecom and submarine networks, it's time for the hyperscalers to have their day in the sun at OFC. This year's optical conference was heavily focused on how the optical industry plans to meet the capacity and power consumption demands of the hyperscalers.

Sterling Perrin, senior principal analyst for Heavy Reading, explains why the data center and AI were the main focus areas for this year's OFC. Perrin also discusses new capabilities for coherent pluggables.

Click on the caption button for a lightly edited transcript.

Here are a few topics we covered:

The role of optics in scaling capacity demands inside the data center and lowering power consumption. (00:32)
Moving from a leaf-spine architecture to an optically switched architecture in the data center. (02:45)
New coherent pluggables for telecom operators and hyperscalers. (05:58)
Applications for the 800G coherent pluggables. (07:41)

About the Author(s)

Kelsey Ziser

Kelsey Ziser

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Kelsey is a senior editor at Light Reading, co-host of the Light Reading podcast, and host of the "What's the story?" podcast.

Her interest in the telecom world started with a PR position at Connect2 Communications, which led to a communications role at the FREEDM Systems Center, a smart grid research lab at N.C. State University. There, she orchestrated their webinar program across college campuses and covered research projects such as the center's smart solid-state transformer.

Kelsey enjoys reading four (or 12) books at once, watching movies about space travel, crafting and (hoarding) houseplants.

Kelsey is based in Raleigh, N.C.

See more from Kelsey Ziser

Sterling Perrin

Sterling Perrin

Senior Principal Analyst, Heavy Reading

Sterling has more than 20 years of experience in telecommunications as an industry analyst and journalist. His coverage area at Heavy Reading is optical networking, including packet-optical transport and 5G transport.

Sterling joined Heavy Reading after five years at IDC, where he served as lead optical networks analyst, responsible for the firm’s optical networking subscription research and custom consulting activities. In addition to chairing and moderating many Light Reading events, Sterling is a NGON & DCI World Advisory Board member and past member of OFC’s N5 Market Watch Committee. Sterling is a highly sought-after source among the business and trade press.

See more from Sterling Perrin

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