HYBRID - GIGALIGHT

18Sep, 2026

GIGALIGHT Announces 3.2T HYBRID Product Technical Solution and Benefits

Shenzhen, September 14, 2026 — GIGALIGHT, a global innovator in high-speed optical interconnects, today officially announced its HYBRID 3.2T Semi-DSP heterogeneous optical module technology roadmap and product plan.

At a time when 1.6T is just entering large-scale pilot deployment and 3.2T (equivalent to 16×224G or 32×100G) is approaching rapidly, GIGALIGHT is extending its proven “Semi-DSP + half-linear” HYBRID architecture, already validated at 800G, into a pluggable 3.2T form factor.

The company presents this as a practical evolutionary path that does not depend on new full-DSP capacity, does not force liquid-cooling upgrades, and retains serviceability.

I. Three Major Challenges Facing the 3.2T Era

Full-DSP 3.2T: Power consumption rises to the 40–50W range, which is difficult for an air-cooled front panel to handle.

Pure-linear LPO/NPO 3.2T: 224G/lane is extremely sensitive to Host SerDes and PCB losses, while interoperability risks are high for 500m single-mode transmission and multi-vendor deployments.

LRO single-direction DSP: The chips are niche products, have long lead times, and the ecosystem has not yet matured.

GIGALIGHT’s answer: the HYBRID product architecture

HYBRID = (LRO + LTO) / 2

Among the 8/16 channels, only half use mature duplex DSPs, while the other half use direct linear drive. System-level clock/phase sharing is used to provide reference information to the linear side.

II. Key Technical Elements of the HYBRID 3.2T Solution

Channel architecture: Of the 16 channels at 224G/lane, 8 retain full-DSP retiming, while the other 8 use direct drive with a linear Driver + TIA.

DSP reuse: The architecture reuses the mass-produced 1.6T duplex DSP chip.

Optical engine: Silicon photonics DR8×2, supporting ELS external light sources. GIGALIGHT states that it already holds silicon-photonics patents related to external light sources for 800G/1.6T/3.2T.

Form factor: OSFP-XD / OSFP224 pluggable modules, compatible with existing switch front panels and air-cooling designs.

System-level coordination: Through CMIS and proprietary DSP-TAP registers, the reference clock, phase, and FEC margin of the DSP channels are exposed to the host for tuning. The linear channels can therefore “borrow” clock lock rather than having to perform phase acquisition from scratch.

III. Core Benefits Compared with Conventional Full-DSP 3.2T

IV. Four Major Commercial Benefits for AI Cluster

1. Support for pluggable 3.2T architectures with liquid cooling:
3.2T can support enhanced low-density OSFP air-cooled chassis.

2. Reduce dependence on DSP production capacity:
There is no need to compete for new 3.2T DSP capacity; a “half of an existing DSP” can support twice the bandwidth.

3. Open tuning and customer control:
The host system can adjust equalization, gain, and FEC strategies, shortening the joint-debugging cycle for customer-developed switches.

4. Smooth migration toward NPO/CPO:
The same “half-system-coordination” concept can be extended downward to NPO optical engines.

V. Product Roadmap

✅ 800G OSFP HYBRID DR8 / 2×DR4: Mature, with prototypes already available.

✅ 1.6T OSFP-HRO 2×DR4 HYBRID: Prototypes already available.

3.2T OSFP-XD/OSFP HYBRID silicon-photonics pluggable modules: Supported in the roadmap.

3.2T pluggable optical modules with external light sources, as well as enhanced 3.2T NPO silicon-photonics engines: Supported in the roadmap.

VI. GIGALIGHT’s View

«“HYBRID technology can provide a better power-consumption balance for 3.2T pluggable optical modules. It can also evolve into an enhanced 3.2T NPO silicon-photonics engine, with guaranteed 500m transmission.”»

— GIGALIGHT Product Strategy Department

14Sep, 2026

GIGALIGHT Hybrid Technology Enables 1.6T AI Interconnect Architecture to Break Free from Liquid Cooling Dependency — ECOC 2026 Demonstration

September 14, 2026, Shenzhen, China. – As AI training clusters scale to 100,000 GPUs and beyond, 1.6T high-speed optical transceivers are becoming a critical hardware component for data center interconnects (DCI) between racks. Mainstream 1.6T transceivers based on full-DSP architectures typically consume 25–28W. In high-density OSFP switch racks, this level of power consumption exceeds the practical thermal capacity of conventional air cooling, making liquid-cooling upgrades increasingly necessary for large-scale deployment.

Liquid cooling not only requires significant capital investment in servers, racks, piping, and monitoring systems, but also involves data center infrastructure upgrades and major changes to operation and maintenance processes. This substantially increases the deployment threshold and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for AI computing expansion.

Numerical Basis

1. Air-cooling limit: approximately 25W

For conventional pluggable OSFP optical transceivers, thermal capacity is constrained by rack airflow, inlet/outlet temperatures, and the high-density deployment of 8×200G channels. In practical high-density rack environments, the power capacity of air cooling is typically around 25W.

2. Full-DSP architectures exceed the limit: 25–28W

Power consumption above the practical air-cooling limit requires liquid cooling or enhanced thermal management in high-density racks. This is also one of the reasons why platforms such as NVIDIA GB200 have adopted liquid cooling as a standard solution.

3. Hybrid architecture leaves sufficient thermal headroom: 18W

With a maximum power consumption of only 18W, the Hybrid solution operates more than 7W below the typical air-cooling limit. It can therefore be deployed directly in existing air-cooled switch racks. This provides significant value for customers upgrading existing data center infrastructure and for AI computing customers who prefer to avoid liquid-cooling deployment.

4. Pure LPO offers lower power consumption, but with architectural trade-offs: 10–16W

Pure LPO solutions offer the lowest power consumption, but require next-generation switch ASICs with built-in DSP capabilities. As a result, they cannot provide the same plug-and-play compatibility with existing switch platforms.

As the inventor of Hybrid technology, GIGALIGHT will demonstrate at ECOC 2026 in Europe a key technology option designed to eliminate the need for mandatory liquid cooling in 1.6T interconnect deployments: the 1.6T OSFP224-HRO 2×DR4 heterogeneous silicon photonics transceiver, featuring a maximum power consumption of only 18W.

1.6T Hybrid Architecture Diagram

Key Product Advantages

1. Exceptional Energy Efficiency with Significantly Reduced Power Consumption

The transceiver features a maximum operating power consumption of only 18W across the full operating range. Compared with mainstream 3nm full-DSP solutions with equivalent specifications, power consumption is reduced by approximately 28%–35%. This significantly alleviates thermal pressure in high-density racks while reducing long-term power consumption and O&M TCO in AI and HPC data centers.

2. Robust Transmission Across the Full Operating Range with BER Performance Beyond Protocol Requirements

Across the full operating temperature range, the BER performance of all eight channels exceeds the requirements defined by the 1.6T OSFP-DR8 international protocol specification. The solution provides enhanced stability for high-speed, long-reach transmission and can reliably support 500-meter short- and medium-distance interconnects in AI clusters.

3. Proprietary Cross-Channel Coordination Mechanism Addresses Key Limitations of Pure LPO Architectures

The product retains DSP-based signal-processing capabilities for critical channels and supports cross-channel signal enhancement, clock calibration, and phase synchronization. It enables real-time error correction and timing optimization for linear LPO links, addressing key industry challenges associated with pure linear architectures, including link instability, limited self-diagnostic capabilities, and difficult network adaptation.

This approach combines low power consumption with practical commercial deployability.

“Many AI computing customers are currently facing a difficult choice: deploying full-DSP 1.6T solutions requires costly liquid-cooling upgrades, while adopting LPO/NPO architectures requires a fundamental redesign of the system hardware. The core value of the Hybrid heterogeneous architecture is to break this dilemma.”

“By retaining a portion of DSP capabilities inside the transceiver, we can keep power consumption within the range supported by conventional air cooling while protecting customers’ existing data center investments. This provides a practical path for smoothly upgrading existing AI computing clusters to 1.6T interconnects.”

— GIGALIGHT Technical Lead

About GIGALIGHT

As an open optical networking explorer, GIGALIGHT integrates the design, manufacturing, and sales of both active and passive optical devices and subsystems. The company’s product portfolio includes III-V optical modules, silicon photonics modules and silicon-based NPO/CPO engines, liquid-cooled optical modules, passive optical components, Active Optical Cables (AOCs), Direct Attach Cables (DACs), coherent optical communication modules, OPEN DCI BOX subsystems based on coherent and O-band DWDM optical modules, and UHD SDI video optical transceivers. GIGALIGHT focuses on applications including AI data centers, 5G transport networks, metropolitan WDM transmission, and ultra-HD broadcast and video, positioning itself as an innovative designer of high-speed optical interconnect hardware solutions.

8Sep, 2026

LPO vs. Hybrid Semi-DSP｜A Comprehensive Comparison of AI Computing Networking Solutions

I. First, Clarifying the Fundamental Architectures

LPO (Linear-Drive Pluggable Optics)

LPO uses a direct-drive architecture in which the transmitter laser is driven directly by the electrical Driver, while the receiver uses a linear TIA. The DSP chip is completely eliminated from the optical module.

Signal equalization, compensation, and retiming are handled entirely by the high-performance SerDes inside the switch ASIC. The primary goal is to achieve ultra-low power consumption and maximize energy efficiency.

Hybrid Semi-DSP

Hybrid Architecture Diagram

A Hybrid Semi-DSP solution integrates a lightweight and streamlined DSP inside the optical module, retaining basic digital equalization, signal compensation, and configurable tuning capabilities on the Tx/Rx side.

Instead of implementing the complex long-distance dispersion and nonlinear compensation algorithms of a full DSP, the Hybrid architecture strikes a balance among power consumption, performance, and controllability. It also enables open parameter tuning through a host system.

DSP-TAP Parameter Tuning via Host System

GIGALIGHT provides Hybrid optical solutions designed to combine the low-power advantages of LPO with the flexibility, link margin, diagnostics, and configurability of DSP-based optics.

II. Core Comparison from an AI Computing Networking Perspective

1. Power Consumption

LPO:

LPO has a clear advantage in power consumption. By eliminating the DSP, it removes the DSP power overhead and can achieve the lowest module power consumption. This is particularly attractive for short-reach links in high-density AI racks where reducing TCO and power consumption is a top priority.

Hybrid:

Hybrid consumes more power than LPO but significantly less than conventional full-DSP optics. Through dynamic algorithm enable/disable control, power consumption can be adjusted according to actual link conditions.

Trade-off:

LPO provides fixed ultra-low power consumption, while Hybrid provides dynamically adjustable power-performance optimization.

2. Link Margin and Transmission Distance

LPO:

Link compensation relies entirely on the switch SerDes, while the optical module itself has limited signal recovery and compensation capability. As a result, LPO can be more sensitive to fiber quality, connector cleanliness, and temperature fluctuations.

Typical applications:

In-rack and short rack-to-rack links, generally up to 100 m, particularly in newly deployed AI clusters with high-quality cabling.

As cabling ages, patching stages increase, or link distances become longer, the available link margin can decrease rapidly.

Hybrid:

The integrated lightweight DSP provides local signal recovery and compensation, offering greater link margin and stronger tolerance to link degradation.

Typical applications:

100–500 m data-center interconnects, mixed or legacy cabling environments, short- and medium-reach DCI, and upgrades of existing data centers.

3. System Dependency and Interoperability

LPO:

Because the optical module does not perform complete signal recovery, the module and switch SerDes must be jointly tuned and optimized.

Different switch vendors may have significant differences in SerDes performance and implementation, making cross-vendor interoperability and mixed-brand deployment more challenging. As a result, LPO is particularly suited to vertically integrated and highly customized AI clusters.

Hybrid:

The module performs basic signal recovery independently, retaining the plug-and-play characteristics of conventional optical transceivers.

This reduces the optical module’s dependence on a specific switch ASIC implementation and facilitates multi-vendor equipment deployment, making Hybrid more suitable for open and heterogeneous AI computing networks.

4. Operations, Monitoring, and Fault Diagnosis

LPO:

Without a DSP, LPO generally provides only basic optical monitoring such as Tx/Rx optical power. Advanced information such as eye diagrams, error statistics, and dispersion-related parameters is more limited.

When bit errors occur, it can be difficult to quickly determine whether the root cause is the fiber, optical components, connectors, or the switch. This can significantly increase troubleshooting costs in large-scale AI clusters.

Hybrid:

The lightweight DSP can retain digital diagnostics capabilities, including real-time error monitoring, signal-quality analysis, and link-degradation warnings.

This enables clearer fault isolation and is advantageous for large-scale deployments requiring sophisticated network operations and maintenance.

Hybrid solutions can also support host-side configurable equalization and tuning strategies, enabling more granular management and optimization of AI computing networks.

5. Supply Chain and Mass-Production Cost

LPO:

The simplified architecture eliminates the expensive DSP, theoretically enabling the lowest BOM cost.

However, LPO places more stringent performance requirements on optical components, lasers, and photodetectors. As data rates continue to increase, particularly toward 224G PAM4, maintaining production yield becomes increasingly challenging.

In this architecture, a significant portion of the system-level value shifts toward the switch SerDes and ASIC vendors.

Hybrid:

The use of a lightweight semi-DSP increases BOM cost compared with pure LPO.

However, the value of the solution can remain within the optical module vendor through algorithm optimization, adaptive tuning, and implementation know-how. The architecture also provides greater tolerance to optical and manufacturing variations, resulting in a wider production window.

6. Business Application Scenarios

(1) In-Rack / Very Short-Reach Connections in AI Training Clusters → LPO is More Suitable

Extremely short distances, new cabling, highly integrated architectures, and a strong focus on maximum power efficiency make LPO attractive for densely packed AI compute environments.

(2) Rack-to-Rack, POD-to-POD, Legacy Data Center Upgrades, and SMB/Enterprise AI Computing Centers → Hybrid Has Greater Advantages

More complicated cabling, longer link distances, multi-vendor equipment, and the need for network control, diagnostics, and open tuning capabilities make Hybrid a more flexible choice.

(3) Short- and Medium-Reach DCI → Hybrid

LPO can become less practical as distance and link complexity increase.

Hybrid can adapt to different fiber and link conditions through open parameter tuning, making it a potential cost-effective option for short- and medium-reach DCI applications.

III. Overall Industry Positioning

LPO: Ultra-Low-Power Short-Reach AI Computing Solution

Key value proposition:

Ultra-low power consumption, highly customized architecture, short-reach applications, and newly deployed high-density AI clusters.

LPO achieves maximum power efficiency by trading away some link margin, interoperability, and diagnostic flexibility.

Hybrid: Open, Configurable, and Flexible AI Computing Solution

Key value proposition:

Configurable power consumption, stronger link margin, host-side tuning, better diagnostics, multi-vendor compatibility, and support for legacy network environments.

Rather than pursuing the absolute minimum power consumption, Hybrid delivers greater flexibility, operational control, and long-term value across a wider range of AI networking scenarios.

GIGALIGHT Hybrid Product Portfolio

GIGALIGHT ‘s Hybrid portfolio is positioned to bridge the gap between pure LPO and conventional full-DSP optics, providing an open and configurable architecture for next-generation AI computing networks.

IV. The Real Trend in AI Computing Networking

LPO and Hybrid are not simply replacement technologies. They are complementary architectures for different layers of the AI networking infrastructure.

At the innermost layer of the AI rack, where link distances are extremely short and power efficiency is the overriding priority, LPO can be used to minimize power consumption.

For POD-to-POD, rack-to-rack, data-center-wide, and short-/medium-reach DCI connectivity, Hybrid solutions can provide greater link margin, interoperability, diagnostics, and configuration flexibility.

Together, LPO and Hybrid can form a layered and complementary optical interconnect architecture for AI computing, balancing power efficiency, performance, deployment flexibility, and long-term network operability.

7Sep, 2026

GIGALIGHT: Hybrid Retimed-Channel Architecture Enters Evaluation by Global Hyperscalers

September 7, 2026, Shenzhen, China. – As the optical interconnect industry enters a critical transition period from 800G to 1.6T, the industry has been seeking an optimal solution between ultra-low-power LPO/LRO and high-margin full-DSP architectures. With its differentiated advantages of flexibility, controllability, balanced power consumption, and robust link performance, the half-DSP heterogeneous Hybrid architecture is moving beyond vendor innovation and onto the system evaluation lists of global hyperscalers.

Microsoft and Meta, which have long played leading roles in defining next-generation data center interconnect standards, have already completed system simulations and feasibility assessments through international open technology forums such as OIF and OCP. Their core concept is to deploy retimed channels and linear-receive channels on the same port, using high-quality retimed channels with DSP-based compensation as a link reference, while assisting the switch SerDes in performing coordinated equalization optimization for the linear channels. This approach aims to control overall system power consumption while improving the interference resistance and transmission robustness of parallel optical links.

Unlike the single-design logic of fully symmetric LRO or LPO implementations, the Hybrid-channel system concept breaks the conventional either-or technology choice.

Purely linear solutions offer power advantages, but are highly sensitive to link margin and strongly dependent on cabling quality and switch-chip capabilities;
Full-DSP solutions provide strong link stability, but come with higher overall system power consumption;
Hybrid retimed architecture introduces a new compromise: some channels retain independent signal compensation and link diagnostic capabilities, while the remaining channels use linear reception to achieve power savings, enabling a dynamic balance among performance, power consumption, and operational maintainability.

The following illustrates the complete clock-recovery principle of Hybrid LRO (4 full-DSP channels + 4 linear-receive channels):

Hybrid Architecture Diagram

Four channels with RX DSP: Clock recovery is completed inside the optical module
Four LRO linear channels: The module has no CDR; all clock recovery is performed by the switch SerDes, with two operating modes (Independent Mode / Coordinated Reference Mode)

Interpretation 1: CDR Principle of the Four RX-DSP Channels (Module-Side Closed-Loop Recovery)

Process: Optical signal → PD optical-to-electrical conversion → TIA amplification → ADC sampling → CDR circuit inside the module RX DSP

The ADC samples the received analog signal using a locally free-running high-speed clock.
The CDR continuously compares the edge phase of the sampled data with the ideal data phase and calculates the phase error.
Through digital loop filtering, the sampling-clock phase is dynamically adjusted to align with the signal transition edges.
An aligned, low-jitter recovered clock and clean data stream are then output.
At the same time, error statistics and jitter margin are monitored, with diagnostic information reported through CMIS.

Interpretation 2: Basic Principle of the Four Linear LRO Channels (Standard Independent Mode)

These four channels have no ADC, on-chip DSP, or CDR.

Process: Optical signal → PD → Linear TIA → High-speed analog electrical signal directly output to the switch ASIC

Each SerDes lane inside the switch has its own independent CDR.
Each lane independently captures the analog-signal edges and completes clock-phase locking.
By default, the clocks of all eight channels operate independently without referencing one another.

Key Interpretation: Enhanced Coordinated Mode (System-Level Optimization Unique to the Hybrid Architecture)

With support from switch-level algorithms:

The four module-side DSP channels first establish a stable set of high-quality reference clock and phase information.
The ASIC uses this validated clock reference as the initial phase prediction and jitter constraint for the CDRs of the four linear channels.
The CDRs of the linear channels no longer need to blindly search for the correct phase from scratch. Instead, the phase-search range is narrowed, enabling faster clock recovery while reducing clock offset and jitter variation among parallel channels.

While hyperscalers have so far focused primarily on system-level architecture analysis and simulation validation, GIGALIGHT has moved ahead of the industry by turning this innovative concept into an engineered, practical solution.

GIGALIGHT Hybrid Product Portfolio：

1.6T OSFP-HRO 2×DR4 Silicon Photonics Transceiver
800G OSFP-HRO 2×DR4 Silicon Photonics Transceiver
800G OSFP HYBRID VR8-AOC Active Optical Cable
800G OSFP HYBRID PSM8-AOC Active Optical Cable

Based on this Hybrid-channel concept, GIGALIGHT’s Hybrid half-DSP heterogeneous silicon photonics transceivers adopt a differentiated channel architecture: four channels retain full RX-DSP compensation capability, while the other four channels employ a linear-receive architecture with DSP pre-emphasis on the transmit side.

The product portfolio covers two major form factors: 800G/1.6T OSFP-HRO 2×DR4 and HYBRID PSM8-AOC. These products transform forward-looking concepts discussed in open industry forums into testable, scalable, and mass-producible commercial hardware solutions.

From the perspective of comprehensive networking value in complex real-world data-center environments, while Microsoft and Meta are driving the implementation of LRO standards, major industry players are also beginning to evaluate the system-level value of a Hybrid retimed architecture with greater practical deployment potential.

This Hybrid retimed solution points directly to the Hybrid half-DSP technology roadmap.

In One Sentence

The key difference between a Hybrid linear channel and a conventional LRO channel is that pure LRO lacks system-level clock and phase synchronization capabilities. This is precisely the underlying value of Hybrid technology, giving it strong potential to become a mainstream technology direction for next-generation private AI computing networks.

About GIGALIGHT

7Jul, 2026

GIGALIGHT Secures Two More Patents Related to AI Optical Interconnect Technologies

July 7, 2026, Shenzhen, China. – GIGALIGHT today announced that it has been granted two new patents by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).

Patent 1: Optical Path Design for Optical Components Based on a Hybrid DSP and Semi-Linear Direct-Drive Optical Module

Completely different from the conventional design approach for high-speed 800G/1.6T optical modules, this patented technology serves as the core engine and the “heart” of GIGALIGHT’s Hybrid optical module architecture. The innovative optical path design enables the full functionality and complete implementation of the Hybrid optical module.

In general, LRO optical modules share a similar design philosophy with standard FRO optical modules. In contrast, the Hybrid architecture adopts a fundamentally different component layout and signal integrity design compared with FRO.

Like LRO, Hybrid is also a semi-DSP architecture for AI optical interconnects. In an LRO module, the transmitter incorporates a DSP while the receiver is DSP-free. The Hybrid architecture introduces a new framework in which either the transmit or receive path of a single optical module consists of 50% DSP-enabled channels and 50% DSP-free channels. The Hybrid architecture further supports heterogeneous breakout interconnect models for 2×400G and 2×800G optical modules. More importantly, GIGALIGHT views Hybrid as a system-level collaborative compensation architecture that enhances overall link robustness, rather than simply an evolution of LRO technology.

Patent 2: An External OSFP Optical Engine Compatible with NPO/CPO Architectures

ELSFP is currently the industry-standard form factor for external optical engines. This patented external optical engine adopts an OSFP package and introduces an alternative fiber routing method compared with ELSFP. The key advantage is that it enables system architectures with mixed pluggable port configurations, providing greater flexibility for network deployment and system design.

About GIGALIGHT

23Jun, 2026

GIGALIGHT White Paper: Networking Technologies for Tool Intelligence and National Computing Networks

Computing power is a tool rather than intelligence. Alternatively, we ought to redefine a new type of tool intelligence. Aristotle’s Organon was not composed for everyday utensils. It establishes definitions of categories and logic. Why are categories and logic vital to all human undertakings? Because categories and logic constitute reflection upon thought itself. Adopting a tool-oriented mindset allows us to navigate toward sound scientific and philosophical trajectories.

The national computing power grid demands clear technical insights. Such insights must support upgradability and cross-technology compatibility. To prevent sound computing infrastructure from quickly becoming obsolete amid technological iterations, we must endow such infrastructure with inherent advancement. This advancement belongs to the unified, indivisible category. If we merely follow conventional, non-innovative development paths, the computing power grid will evolve into a consumptive, bloated architecture. Such a framework cannot guide us toward historically rigorous modes of thinking and risks stagnating subsequent development work. Since we define the computing power grid as embodying a degree of tool intelligence, we must operate and unleash this intelligence at minimal cost.

When a person lacks sufficient rest, their mind grows sluggish and briefly stalls or loses vitality. By analogy, the computing power grid resembles the human brain: it must adopt a lightweight daily architecture built for low latency and low-cost innovation, while boasting inherent competitive edges over networking systems deployed overseas.

I. Building Low-Latency and Low-Power Data Center Interconnect Networks with NRZ Modulation and Half-DSP Technologies

Within AI computing data center networks, NRZ (Non-Return-to-Zero) modulation and “Half-DSP” / linear-drive solutions, including LPO (Linear Pluggable Optics) and Hybrid architectures, have become important technology approaches for achieving both low latency and low power consumption.

These two technology paths are designed for different data rates and transmission distance scenarios. The core objective is to meet the requirements of high-speed interconnects while addressing the high power consumption and latency challenges associated with traditional full-DSP optical modules.

1. NRZ Modulati2. “Half-DSP” Modulation Solutions: LPO and Hybrid Technologiese, Reliable, and Optimized for Ultra-Low Latency

NRZ is a traditional binary modulation technology where each symbol carries one bit of information. In short-distance interconnect applications, its simple physical-layer characteristics make it a preferred solution for latency-sensitive networks.

Application Scenarios

NRZ is mainly used in interconnect scenarios with single-channel speeds ≤200Gbps.

With continued technology evolution, some high-performance SerDes solutions are exploring NRZ-based optimization approaches for higher-speed applications. However, mainstream high-speed optical interconnects at 400G/800G and beyond have transitioned to PAM4 modulation.

Key Advantages

Ultra-Low Latency
NRZ does not require complex digital signal processing (DSP) for signal equalization and error correction. The electrical-to-optical conversion process introduces almost no additional processing latency.

Low Power Consumption
With a simpler circuit architecture and without the high power overhead of DSP chips, NRZ-based optical modules typically maintain low power consumption levels, generally within several watts.

High Signal-to-Noise Ratio Tolerance
In optical fiber transmission, channel loss is relatively low. The two-level NRZ signal provides strong resistance to interference and maintains good signal integrity.

Limitations

NRZ has relatively low spectral efficiency and cannot efficiently support high-speed transmission beyond 50Gbps per wavelength.
Therefore, in mainstream 400G/800G and higher-speed data center and AI computing interconnect architectures, NRZ is gradually being replaced by PAM4 modulation.

GIGALIGHT’s 200G QSFP-DD S8/PSM8 parallel optical module represents a milestone product in this field.

2. “Half-DSP” Modulation Solutions: LPO and Hybrid Technologies

“Half-DSP” is not a formal industry standard term. It generally refers to reduced-DSP or DSP-free optical architectures, including:

LPO (Linear Pluggable Optics)
Hybrid / LRO (Linear Receive Only)

These solutions aim to maintain sufficient signal integrity while significantly reducing the power consumption and latency associated with traditional full-DSP optical modules.

LPO (Linear Pluggable Optics)

The LPO architecture completely removes the DSP chip from the optical module and retains only the linear driver and TIA (Transimpedance Amplifier).Signal processing and equalization are mainly handled by the advanced equalization capability of the switch-side ASIC.

Hybrid (Half Retimed & Half Linear) / LRO (Linear Receive Only)

Hybrid solutions typically retain partial linear-drive functionality at the transmitter or receiver side, or utilize simplified DSP logic in specific signal paths to achieve a balance between performance and power efficiency.

Key Characteristics

Balanced Power Efficiency and Performance
Compared with LPO, Hybrid solutions can provide improved signal integrity for longer transmission distances (such as 100m–2km) while still achieving approximately 20%–30% power savings compared with full-DSP solutions.

Latency Optimization
Although some signal processing capability is retained, simplified algorithms or reduced DSP functions enable significant latency reduction.

Application Scenarios

Hybrid and LRO solutions are suitable for 100m–2km short-to-medium distance interconnect applications, where transmission distance requirements remain important while power efficiency is highly valued.

Core Technology Comparison

GIGALIGHT’s Half-DSP / Hybrid optical modules and active optical cable (AOC) product portfolio represent engineering innovations in this field, providing practical solutions for large-scale network deployment with enhanced feasibility compared with traditional LPO/LRO approaches.

Representative products include:

HYBRID Single-Mode Optical Modules

HYBRID Multimode and Single-Mode AOC

HYBRID Copper Cable Solutions

II. O-BAND Non-Coherent DWDM as an Efficient Complement to Coherent Communication for Low-Latency and Cost-Effective Medium-Distance DCI

With the rapid growth of AI computing clusters and distributed data centers, Data Center Interconnect (DCI) networks are facing increasing demands for 400G/800G/1.6T high-speed optical interconnect solutions.

Although traditional coherent communication technologies provide excellent long-distance transmission capabilities, their complex DSP architecture, high power consumption, higher cost, and increased transmission latency have created efficiency and cost challenges for short- and medium-distance DCI applications within 30km.

To address this challenge, GIGALIGHT has introduced an O-BAND (1310nm window) non-coherent DWDM product portfolio.

By leveraging the natural zero-dispersion characteristics of the O-BAND window, this architecture eliminates the need for DCM (Dispersion Compensation Module) and enables an efficient transmission solution optimized for medium-distance data center interconnect applications.

Compared with traditional C-BAND coherent solutions, O-BAND non-coherent DWDM provides the following key advantages:

Low Latency: By eliminating complex DSP-based dispersion compensation processing, the solution significantly reduces link transmission latency, making it highly suitable for latency-sensitive applications such as AI training and Real-time computing resource scheduling .

Low Power Consumption: By adopting Silicon Photonics integration technology and PAM4 modulation architecture, the overall power consumption is significantly lower than traditional coherent optical modules.

Cost Efficiency: The architecture eliminates the need for expensive coherent components, DCM modules, and complex optical line system designs, significantly reducing: CAPEX, Network deployment cost and Operation and maintenance expenses.

High-Density Deployment: The solution supports high-density optical module form factors including QSFP-DD and OSFP,meeting the requirements of next-generation large-scale data center deployments.

Open and Flexible Architecture: The solution supports open optical networking architectures and is compatible with white-box switches , open optical line systems and Improving overall network flexibility and deployment efficiency.

From 100G to 800G and further toward 1.6T, GIGALIGHT has established one of the industry’s most complete O-BAND DWDM pluggable product portfolios, covering different generations and capacity requirements for data center interconnect networks.

Product Portfolio:

1. 100G QSFP28 DWDM1

Single wavelength 100G transmission
Simplified deployment and operation
System supports up to 16-channel wavelength transmission

2. 200G/400G QSFP-DD DWDM4

4-wavelength aggregation
50G/100G per wavelength
System supports up to 16-channel wavelength transmission

3. 800G OSFP/QSFP-DD 2×PSM DWDM4 (O-BAND)

Single wavelength 100G PAM4
System supports up to 16-channel wavelength transmission

4. 1.6T OSFP224-EL 2×PSM DWDM4 (O-BAND)

Single wavelength 200G PAM4
External light source architecture
System supports up to 16-channel wavelength transmission

O-BAND DCI Interconnect Application Scenario

Transmission Distance: 2km–30km

III. Three Flexible Solutions for 1.6T AI & Data Center Interconnect

With the explosive growth of AI computing requirements, data center interconnect bandwidth is rapidly evolving from 400G/800G toward 1.6T.

To meet deployment requirements across different application scenarios, the industry is developing three major technology approaches for 1.6T optical interconnects. Each solution provides different advantages and is optimized for different requirements in terms of cost structure ,power budget and deployment scalability.

1. Standard 1.6T Pluggable Optical Transceiver

Standard 1.6T OSFP224 Optical Module

The 1.6T OSFP224 optical module is a next-generation high-speed optical transceiver featuring:

Total bandwidth of 1.6Tbps
OSFP224 form factor
Designed to support AI clusters and high-performance computing bandwidth requirements

It represents one of the mainstream solutions for next-generation AI networking deployments.

Core Parameters and Definition

Data Rate and Form Factor

Total Data Rate : 1.6Tbps total bandwidth is achieved through 8 × 200G PAM4 electrical channels. After protocol overhead, the effective payload reaches approximately 1.6Tbps.

OSFP224 Form Factor：OSFP224 is an evolution of the traditional OSFP form factor. It features:

224 electrical contacts
Support for 16 electrical lanes
Higher port density
Enhanced thermal capability

It is designed for high-density AI switch deployments.

Standard 1.6T Pluggable Module Solutions

2.External Light Source 1.6T Pluggable Optical Module (External Light Source Pluggable, ELS-Pluggable)

This architecture separates the laser source from the 1.6T OSFP224 optical module. A centralized:

Rack-level external light source
Board-level external light source
Co-packaged light source

provides optical power to multiple pluggable modules through fiber coupling.

The optical module itself only retains modulators and photodetectors and required electrical processing components. This architecture significantly reduces thermal load at the individual module level.

As one of the pioneers proposing the External Light Source 1.6T Pluggable Optical Module architecture, GIGALIGHT provides the following solutions:

3. External Light Source 1.6T (16×100G) NPO Solution Near-Package Optics (NPO)

The NPO architecture represents a transition technology between pluggable optics and Co-Packaged Optics (CPO). In the NPO architecture, the optical engine is no longer integrated inside the switch ASIC package.

Instead, it is installed immediately outside the package.

Combined with an external light source, NPO enables ultra-short-distance high-speed interconnects through Silicon Photonics or Polymer waveguide technologies.

The 1.6T NPO solution is typically deeply integrated with Silicon Photonics platforms to achieve extremely low electrical-to-optical transmission loss.

It should be noted that practical NPO optical engine architectures generally need to be based on:

16×100G physical architecture
32×100G physical architecture

This represents the key differentiation point compared with 1.6T pluggable optical modules.

Although the industry is exploring 3.2T NPO and 6.4T NPO

Architectures based on 224G SerDes technology, related standards have not yet been finalized.

Comparison of Three 1.6T Solutions

Deployment Roadmap

The three solutions are not mutually exclusive alternatives.

Instead, they represent a layered deployment strategy targeting different technology maturity stages and application scenarios.

Near Term (2024–2026): Standard pluggable optical modules will remain the mainstream solution, supporting smooth upgrades for most data center deployments.

Mid Term (2027+): External light source pluggable architectures are expected to achieve rapid adoption in large-scale AI clusters by balancing deployment flexibility and power optimization

Long Term (2027+): With the maturity of Silicon Photonics technology and standardization progress, NPO solutions are expected to become a major architecture for AI supercomputing interconnects, providing the foundation for future 3.2T and 6.4T network evolution.

IV. Enabling Ultra-Low Latency All-Optical Switching at Critical Network Nodes with AWGR + EDFA / AWGR + SOA Architectures

1. AWGR (Arrayed Waveguide Grating Router)

AWGR is a passive wavelength routing engine that utilizes its cyclic wavelength routing characteristics to deterministically map different optical wavelengths within a WDM signal to corresponding output ports.

Unlike traditional electrical switching architectures, AWGR does not require lookup tables, packet scheduling and optical buffering.

Therefore, it completely eliminates the traditional optical-electrical-optical (O-E-O) conversion process in electrical switching systems.

The optical signal remains entirely in the optical domain throughout the transmission process.

A single-stage optical switching operation introduces only nanosecond-level latency, which is:

2–3 orders of magnitude lower than traditional OEO architectures
Highly deterministic with extremely low latency jitter

This capability makes AWGR-based optical switching highly suitable for:

AI computing clusters
Low-latency computing networks
High-performance computing scheduling applications

2. AI Computing Cluster AWGR + EDFA Optical Switching Topology

1) Architecture Overview

This architecture is mainly designed for data center inter-rack optical switching and cross-campus long-distance all-optical switching hubs.The topology adopts a three-level flattened architecture:

Compute Access Layer → Core Wavelength Switching Layer → Optical Amplification Output Layer

Access Layer

Each AI computing node / GPU server outputs optical signals through:
100G PSM DWDM4 (C-BAND) optical modules
Each optical port directly carries:
Four fixed C-band wavelengths
The optical signals are then aggregated through a:
DWDM multiplexer (MUX)

Core Switching Layer

After wavelength multiplexing, signals are transmitted into an:
N×N AWGR wavelength router
The AWGR performs optical routing switching based on wavelength assignment.
The switching process is completed entirely in the optical domain.

Optical Compensation Output Layer

After AWGR switching, the system experiences approximately:
8dB inherent insertion loss
An EDFA (Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier) is used to compensate for this optical loss.
The amplified signal is then transmitted to:
Next-stage switching nodes
Target computing clusters
Supporting transmission distances at the:
10km level

2) Topology Characteristics

Key advantages include:

No multi-stage O-E-O conversion
Core switching latency below 1μs
Simplified network architecture
Suitable for large-scale computing hubs with relatively stable network topology

Technical Parameter Comparison

3. AI Computing Cluster AWGR + SOA Optical Switching Topology

This architecture is mainly designed for:

In-rack optical switching
Same data center high-density optical switching hubs
Ultra-low latency AI cluster interconnects

The topology adopts a compact architecture combining:Active Scheduling + All-Optical Switching + Integrated Optical Amplification

Wavelength Scheduling Layer

Each computing node connects to:

O-BAND DWDM optical components
O-BAND multi-wavelength tunable optical engines

The scheduling controller dynamically adjusts output wavelengths according to GPU communication requirements, including Gradient synchronization and Parameter broadcasting.

GIGALIGHT provides O-BAND DWDM parallel optical modules with different baud rates to support medium-distance AI computing interconnect applications.

Core Optical Switching Layer

The dynamically scheduled wavelength signals are transmitted into:

AWGR wavelength routers

The AWGR performs:

Wavelength-based optical routing
Nanosecond-level optical path switching

Integrated Optical Amplification Layer

The architecture uses:

SOA (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier) for amplification of weak optical signals after switching.

Compared with EDFA, SOA provides:

Smaller form factor
Better integration capability
Suitability for high-density rack deployment

SOA can also assist with:

Wavelength conversion
Enhanced scheduling flexibility

Topology Characteristics

The complete switching process latency can be reduced to:

Below 100 nanoseconds
The power consumption of a single optical switching chip is approximately:
1/10 of a comparable electrical switching ASIC

This architecture is highly suitable for:

Large-scale AI training clusters
Thousands of GPU interconnect environments
Low-latency east-west GPU communication

The network architecture diagram

Key Node Selection Recommendations

Conclusion

The core essence of a computing power network resides in its capability to invoke tools. A pure computing power network, an expensive piece of infrastructure, would be utterly meaningless without a society-wide foundation of lifelong learning.

From any perspective of commercial development, blind dependence on large computing models will clash with knowledge undertakings constructed through language. Commercial organizations may only conduct innovative thinking based on computing power networks; they must not regard computing power itself as a competitive advantage.

Computing power networks should function as networks that boost the intellectual capacity of all citizens. Otherwise, trillions of capital invested will fail to deliver any positive outcomes.

Just as traditional telecommunication pipelines were built to connect information, computing power networks exist to connect humans with instrumental intelligence.

Only when we precisely define the core value and positioning of computing power networks can this network become a digital infrastructure worthy of massive national investment.

12Jan, 2026

The Parallel Evolution Logic and Industry Choices of HYBRID, LPO, LRO, and DSP— Why HYBRID Is More Practical Than LRO from a System Engineering Perspective

I. Introduction: Parallel Coexistence, Not a Battle of Routes

As AI and data center interconnects rapidly advance toward 800G and 1.6T, LPO, LRO, and traditional DSP-based optical modules are not engaged in a “winner-takes-all” replacement battle. Instead, constrained by different system requirements, transmission distances, and levels of industry maturity, they form a long-term pattern of parallel coexistence.

Within this parallel framework, HYBRID (semi-DSP) solutions—representing a more engineering-oriented intermediate architecture—are demonstrating clear advantages over typical LRO solutions in terms of overall system and industrial value.

Based on a systematic review of the parallel evolution logic of LPO, LRO, and DSP, and combined with real-world 800G HYBRID product implementations, this paper compares the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and focuses on a key question:

Why is HYBRID more practical and advantageous than LRO in real-world deployment?

II. Review of the Three Fundamental Architectures: DSP, LPO, and LRO

1. DSP-Based Modules: The “Ballast Stone” of Performance and Ecosystem

(1)Architecture Characteristics：Full DSP on both TX and RX sides

(2)Advantages

Strongest signal processing capability (equalization, CDR, FEC, nonlinear compensation)
Supports medium, long, and ultra-long reach transmission
Mature industry ecosystem, complete standards, true plug-and-play

(3)Disadvantages

High power consumption (800G typically >14–16 W)
Higher latency
Highest cost

(4)Typical Applications

Metro networks, backbone networks, DCI
Mission-critical links with extreme reliability requirements

2. LPO: Ultimate Power Efficiency with the Deepest System Coupling

(1)Architecture Characteristics : No DSP inside the module . Signal processing fully shifted to the host SerDes

(2)Advantages

Lowest power consumption (30–50% reduction compared to DSP)
Ultra-low latency
Lowest module BOM cost

(3)Disadvantages

Extremely stringent requirements on host SerDes and channel consistency
Limited transmission distance (typically ≤100m)
Complex system tuning and immature ecosystem

(4)Typical Applications

Intra-rack and inter-rack ultra-short-reach interconnects in AI clusters

3. LRO: A Conceptual Compromise

(1)Architecture Characteristics : DSP retained on TX side,Linear RX architecture

(2)Advantages

Lower power consumption than full DSP
Better reach capability than LPO

(3)Practical Challenges

Highly fragmented TX simplex DSP implementations
Poor chip reusability and weak economies of scale
Ecosystem has not reached mainstream adoption

III. HYBRID: A More Engineering-Mature “Semi-DSP” Path

1. The Essential Definition of HYBRID

HYBRID is not simply equivalent to LRO. Instead, it is a system-level DSP resource reallocation methodology:

HYBRID = Only half of the TX/RX paths inside the module pass through DSP, and for the module-level transmit/receive links, only TX or RX passes through DSP,while the remaining paths adopt linear architectures.

Conceptually, this can be understood as: HYBRID ≈ (LRO + LTO) / 2

Below is the patented HYBRID architecture description from GIGALIGHT:

HYBRID 800G Multimode Architecture Diagram (Patent Applied)

HYBRID 800G Single-Mode Architecture Diagram (Patent Applied)

HYBRID 800G Copper Cable Architecture Diagram (Patent Applied)

2. Key Differences: HYBRID vs. LRO

Dimension	LRO	HYBRID
DSP Type	TX simplex DSP	Mature duplex DSP
Chip Reusability	Very low	High, reuse of existing DSP
Market Scale	Niche, customized	Scalable, mass-producible
Supply Chain Risk	High	Low
System Consistency	Medium, one-side linear	Medium, one-side linear

Core Conclusion:
HYBRID does not introduce a new class of highly specialized DSP chips. Instead, it reuses mature duplex DSP architectures and simply reduces the number of active channels.

Furthermore, early system-level validation shows that certain LTO-based system links can even outperform LRO links, reinforcing HYBRID’s clear advantage over LRO in real industrial deployment.

IV. Comprehensive Advantages and Practical Challenges of HYBRID Key Advantages of HYBRID

1. Key Advantages of HYBRID

Significant power reduction：~20–30% lower than full DSP solutions
Ultra-low link latency：DSP count reduced by half; latency comparable to LRO
Controllable signal quality：MMF 50m: PRE-FEC BER up to E-7 / E-8，SMF 500m: PRE-FEC BER up to E-10
Clear cost optimization：~20% cost reduction versus traditional DSP solutions
Support for higher channel density：Viable path toward 16-channel / 3.2T pluggable modules

2. Limitations and Challenges of HYBRID

Non-DSP RX paths place slightly higher requirements on host SI tuning
Requires system-level co-optimization rather than pure “plug-and-play”
Still in early stages of large-scale deployment, requiring customer-side collaboration

However, compared with LPO and LRO, the engineering and deployment risks of HYBRID are significantly more controllable.

V. The Inevitability of Parallel Coexistence: Why There Is No Single Winning Route

Scenario	Optimal Solution
≤100m, ultra-low latency	LPO
100m – 2km, power/performance balance	HYBRID / LRO
≥2km, maximum reliability	DSP

These three solutions address different system constraints and optimization targets, rather than forming a simple generational replacement relationship.

VI. Conclusion: HYBRID Is the Most Realistic Intermediate Solution

LPO is an idealized extreme solution
DSP is an irreplaceable foundational solution
HYBRID is currently the most engineering-feasible intermediate solution

Compared with LRO, HYBRID’s decisive advantage lies in the fact that:
It does not rely on highly specialized TX simplex DSPs with extremely limited market demand, but instead reuses mature, scalable duplex DSP architectures.

This enables HYBRID to achieve clear overall competitiveness in power consumption, cost, ecosystem maturity, supply chain stability, and system-level deployment.

In the foreseeable future, LPO, HYBRID, and DSP will continue to coexist, jointly forming the technological foundation of AI and data center interconnects.

About GIGALIGHT

As an open optical networking explorer, GIGALIGHT integrates the design, manufacturing, and sales of both active and passive optical devices and subsystems. The company’s product portfolio includes optical modules, silicon photonics modules, liquid-cooled modules, passive optical components, active optical cables, direct attach copper cables, coherent optical communication modules, and OPEN DCI BOX subsystems. GIGALIGHT focuses on serving applications such as data centers, 5G transport networks, metropolitan WDM transmission, ultra-HD broadcast and video, and more. It stands as an innovative designer of high-speed optical interconnect hardware solutions.

26Dec, 2025

GIGALIGHT Launches 800G HYBRID Green Optical Interconnect Products, Driving Category Innovation for AI & DC Interconnects

December 26, 2025, Shenzhen, China. – Driven by design innovation, GIGALIGHT today officially announced the launch of its 800G OSFP HYBRID AI & DC optical interconnect product portfolio.

The new portfolio includes:
800G OSFP-PHO DR8 / 2×DR4 heterogeneous optical modules
800G OSFP HYBRID PSM8-AOC active optical cables
800G OSFP-PHO VR8 / 2×VR4 heterogeneous optical modules
800G OSFP HYBRID VR8-AOC active optical cables

Unlike traditional full-DSP optical modules (DPO), the HYBRID architecture adopts DSP on only half of the channels, significantly reducing power consumption and latency.

HYBRID optical modules and active optical cables draw on the widely adopted LPO / LRO design methodologies in the industry. However, from the perspective of strict system-level signal alignment, HYBRID introduces a more advanced and balanced design strategy.

The HYBRID design philosophy can be simply expressed as:HYBRID = (LTO + LRO) / 2

Notes:
LRO: DSP on TX side with linear RX
LPO: Fully linear, DSP-less design
LTO: DSP on RX side with linear TX

1. HYBRID 800G Multimode PHO Modules & AOC Reference Design— Up to 30% Power Saving vs. Traditional DPO

HYBRID 800G Multimode Architecture Diagram (Patent Applied)

HYBRID 800G Multimode Product Portfolio:

(1) 800G OSFP-PHO VR8, 50 m, Dual MPO-12/APC—Max power consumption < 9 W,~30% lower power compared to existing DSP solutions;
(2) 800G OSFP-PHO 2×VR4, 50 m (Under development)—Supports 2×400G VR4 heterogeneous system interconnects;
(3) 800G OSFP HYBRID VR8-AOC, 50 m

2. HYBRID 800G Heterogeneous Silicon Photonics Modules & AOC Design—~22% Power Saving

HYBRID 800G Single-Mode Architecture Diagram (Patent Applied)

HYBRID 800G Single-Mode Product Portfolio:

(1) 800G OSFP-PHO DR8, 500 m, Dual MPO-12/APC(Optional MPO-16/APC)—Max power consumption < 12 W,
~22% lower power vs. traditional DSP solutions;
(2) 800G OSFP-PHO 2×DR4, 500 m (Under development)—Supports 2×400G DR4 heterogeneous system interconnects;
(3) 800G OSFP HYBRID PSM8-AOC, 500 m

Q1: What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of HYBRID?

Key Advantages:

Lower Power Consumption : ~20%–30% power reduction compared with full-DSP solutions, effectively easing thermal and energy challenges in high-density port deployments.
Ultra-Low Latency : ~50% latency reduction versus traditional DSP architectures, making it ideal for latency-sensitive AI computing and high-speed interconnects.
Excellent Signal Quality : Multimode OM4 @ 50 m: Pre-FEC BER of E-7 / E-8,Single-mode @ 500 m: Pre-FEC BER of E-9 / E-10,Ensures robust and stable system operation.
Significant Cost Optimization : ~21% total cost reduction compared with conventional DSP solutions.
Reference Value for DSP Vendors : Provides new architectural insights for next-generation DSP optimization.

Challenges and Limitations

Non-DSP RX Requirements : In LRO-like architectures, the host system must perform signal integrity parameter matching.In long-term loopback testing, blind tuning shows symbol error counts <10, indicating room for further system-side optimization.
Early-Stage Adoption : Commercial large-scale deployment is still in its early phase and requires ecosystem and customer support.

Q2: Why Is HYBRID Needed?

HYBRID optical modules and active optical cables leverage mature LPO / LRO architectures, while introducing more advanced system-level signal alignment strategies.

By applying DSP to only half of the channels, HYBRID achieves:
Lower power consumption
Reduced latency
Lower overall cost

The HYBRID design methodology enables the feasibility of 16-channel / 3.2T pluggable optical modules, paving the way for next-generation ultra-high-speed interconnects.

Q3: What AI & DC Interconnect Products Does HYBRID Support?

HYBRID supports:
Multimode VCSEL platforms
Single-mode silicon photonics platforms
Active copper + optical (ACC+) platforms
The HYBRID architecture can also support PCIe over optics applications.

Product Status & Roadmap

As of this announcement, GIGALIGHT has completed the design of:
400G QSFP-DD HYBRID VR8
800G OSFP HYBRID VR8 / DR8 optical modules and AOCs

Samples are available for customer evaluation.The 1.6T OSFP224 HYBRID 2×DR4 silicon photonics module is currently under development and is scheduled for mass availability in Q2 2026.

GIGALIGHT looks forward to working closely with industry partners and customers to jointly accelerate the large-scale adoption and value realization of the HYBRID design methodology in next-generation AI and data center networks.

About GIGALIGHT

As an open optical networking explorer, GIGALIGHT integrates the design, manufacturing, and sales of both active and passive optical devices and subsystems. The company’s product portfolio includes optical modules, silicon photonics modules, liquid-cooled modules, passive optical components, active optical cables, direct attach copper cables, coherent optical communication modules, and OPEN DCI BOX subsystems. GIGALIGHT focuses on serving applications such as data centers, 5G transport networks, metropolitan WDM transmission, ultra-HD broadcast and video, and more. It stands as an innovative designer of high-speed optical interconnect hardware solutions.