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LUSTER Successfully Hosts the 10th ACP Industrial Forum: Driving Intelligent Computing Centers with Optical Switching Technologies
Nov 12, 2024
On Nov 2, 2024, LUSTER successfully hosted the 10th ACP Industrial Forum in Beijing. The forum, focusing on “Optical Switching and Interconnection Technologies in Intelligent Computing Centers,” convened experts, scholars, and industry leaders from the optical communications sector to explore emerging technologies and future applications.
The event provided a platform for deep discussions on emerging technologies, industry trends, and future applications about all optical switching and interconnection. It attracted enthusiastic participation from professionals and academics, showcasing the dynamic growth of the optical communications industry in the era of intelligent computing.
In the opening keynote, Li Fang, Director at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), delivered an in-depth analysis of the trends shaping the photonics industry driven by intelligent technologies. She emphasized that, with the rapid expansion of intelligence and cloud computing, information photonics has become a key driver of the digital economy. This domain encompasses four critical areas:optical sensoring, optical interconnection, optical computing, and display, which are essential for future-efficient information processing.
She also emphasized that the development of emerging technologies, such as Chiplet Photonic Interconnect (CPO) and Optical Interconnect (OIO), is positioned to address the bandwidth limitations of traditional electrical interconnects, enabling lower latency and higher computing efficiency. Additionally, the ongoing investments in critical materials, including silicon photonics and thin-film lithium niobate, will enhance the competitive edge in the global photonics market, laying a robust foundation for future industrial development.
Driving Transformation in Intelligent Computing Centers with Optical Switching Technology
Following the keynote presentations, Dr. Hua Zhang, Solutions Director at LUSTER, provided an in-depth analysis of the application of Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) technology in intelligent computing centers. He emphasized that with the rapid growth of large models and generative technologies, data centers are increasing demands for high-bandwidth, low-latency, and highly reliable network interconnections. Dr. Zhang highlighted that OCS technology, especially DirectLight Beam Steering technology by H+S Polatis, which directly switches data paths using optical fibers, eliminates the latency and power consumption issues associated with traditional electro-optical conversions, demonstrating significant advantages in cluster reconfiguration and spine switch replacement with high reliability and stability.
He further illustrated this point with a successful case study involving a prominent technology company that deployed OCS technology within its data center. By replacing conventional spine switches, the company was able to reduce capital expenditures by 30% while substantially improving network responsiveness and energy efficiency. Looking ahead, Dr. Zhang predicted that as clusters continue to scale, OCS technology will gain broader adoption in intelligent computing infrastructures, driving the evolution and optimization of data center architectures.
During the panel discussion, the forum chairmans and those speakers engaged in a comprehensive dialogue on “How Optical Switching and Interconnection Technologies Empower Intelligent Computing Centers.” The experts reached a consensus that the rapid growth of intelligent computing and big data applications will significantly accelerate the development of all-optical network technologies, enabling data centers to more effectively meet the growing demands for enhanced computational capabilities, while advancing sustainability and energy efficiency.
As the 10th ACP Industrial Forum successfully came to a close, LUSTER will continue advancing optical communications and intelligent computing technologies. Looking ahead, LUSTER will continue to drive innovation in optical switching solutions, leading the industry toward greater efficiency and lower power consumption.
With the ongoing maturation of Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) technology, LUSTER is well-positioned to strengthen collaboration with industry partners to drive forward technological innovations in intelligent computing centers.These initiatives will strengthen the infrastructure needed to support the era of intelligent computing and big data, ensuring sustainable and efficient solutions for the future.
