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PhotonicsOctober 13, 2026 · 1 min read

Lumentum, Astera Labs and Corning Demo 1060nm VCSEL-Based PCIe-over-Optics for AI Rack-Scale Connectivity at OCP Global Summit

San Jose, 13 October 2026. Lumentum Holdings Inc of San Jose, CA, USA, Astera Labs Inc and Corning Inc are giving a joint demonstration of PCIe-over-optics connectivity for AI rack-scale architectures in Astera Labs' booth #B34 at the 2026 Open Compute Project (OCP) Global Summit at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center (12-15 October).

The rack-level demonstration combines an Astera Labs Scorpio Smart Fabric Switch with Lumentum's 1060nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)-based optical interconnect platform and Corning multi-mode fiber connectivity. The optical interconnect uses high-density 1060nm VCSEL and photodetector arrays implemented with advanced packaging, including two-dimensional arrays with backside lens technology.

The proof-of-concept system is designed to demonstrate multiple 32Gb/s NRZ optical channels over Corning multi-mode fiber and an error-free PCIe-5 link.

"AI infrastructure is pushing optical connectivity closer to the compute system where reach, density and power represent significant challenges," says Lumentum's chief technology officer Matt Sysak. "This demonstration with Astera Labs and Corning shows how Lumentum's 1060nm VCSEL platform can extend PCIe connectivity and unlock a whole new class of functionality," he adds.

Source: Semiconductor Today