Co-packaged optics (CPO)

Co-packaged optics is an architecture that integrates photonic integrated circuits directly in the same package as a network switch's ASIC, instead of using separate, pluggable transceiver modules.

Why is CPO gaining importance?

Traditional pluggable optical modules require sending the electrical signal a relatively long distance between the ASIC and the edge of the package, which, at rising bandwidths (800G, 1.6T), generates significant energy losses and signal degradation. Placing the optics as close as possible to the ASIC radically shortens this path, reducing energy consumption per bit of transmitted data.

Applications

CPO is a development direction for next-generation network switches in hyperscale data centers, where power consumption and port density are critical constraints on scaling network infrastructure.

Related terms

PIC (Photonic Integrated Circuit)

Silicon photonics

PDK