Live webinar, Thursday 14 May - The photonic switching revolution: OCS CPO & the future of optical networks
As AI clusters scale to tens of thousands of GPUs, the limitations of traditional electronic packet switching, specifically latency, power consumption, and physical cabling density, have become a critical bottleneck.
The industry is now reaching a maturity point where silicon photonics-based optical switching is moving from lab prototypes to genuine deployment consideration.
This webinar explores the current state of optical networking, from the integration of wavelength-selective switching (WSS) and reconfigurable photonic fabrics to the emergence of all-optical circuit switches (OCS). We will address the "deployment gap," examining the real-world advantages of these technologies in AI training clusters and identifying the remaining hurdles to mass-market adoption.
Join us as we discuss
How programmable silicon photonics is redefining network flexibility at the chip level.
The role of high-density fibre connectivity and modular infrastructure in supporting all-optical architectures.
Practical strategies for transitioning from electronic to photonic switching without compromising reliability.
Who should attend this webcast?
Calling all network architects, data centre managers, systems engineers and strategic planners involved in high-performance computing, hyperscale networking and optical component development.
We will cover silicon photonics maturity with an honest look at manufacturing yields and the roadmap for SiPh-based switching platforms; optical versus electronic switching through a comparison of latency, power efficiency and throughput at GPU cluster scale; the evolution of ROADMs and how silicon photonics is reimagining wavelength-selective switching and modular connectivity systems for modern architectures; all-optical architectures exploring programmable photonic fabrics and the high-density fibre infrastructure required to connect them; and breaking the scale barriers by addressing bottlenecks in optical switching, physical layer connectivity and mass-market adoption.
Speakers
Dr. Ana González, VP of Business Development, iPRONICS
Dr. Ana González is currently VP of Business Development at iPRONICS. Former R&D Manager at EPIC (European Photonics Industry Consortium), she has a solid network at photonic industry with a large experience reaching out commercial partners and new adopters of PIC technologies. Her expertise lies in the development of optical systems for telecom and datacom.
She received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University Autonomous of Barcelona (UAB) and her PhD degree from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2).
Ted Lichoulas, Engineering Director, Data Center and Cloud Business Unit, AFL
Ted Lichoulas is an Engineering Director in AFL’s Data Center and Cloud business unit.
With more than 27 years of experience at AFL, Ted is a technical leader specializing in connector and hardware product development for advanced optical connectivity systems. Alongside a strong track record of leading multidisciplinary engineering teams, he brings deep expertise across product development, qualification and testing, and new product introduction. His experience spans project and program management, with a consistent focus on delivering high-performance, innovative solutions aligned to customer requirements and evolving market demands. Since 2022, his primary technical focus has been hyperscale connectivity solutions for next-generation, high-density, scalable environments.
Since 2022, his main technical focus has been on high density connectivity solutions for hyperscale data centres.
With thanks to our sponsors
