Marvell and Lumentum to showcase optical circuit switching for AI data centers at OFC 2026
March 16, 2026 11:29 AM
IH Market News
Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) and Lumentum Holdings (NASDAQ:LITE) said they will present a live demonstration of integrated optical networking technologies designed for next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure at the OFC 2026 conference in Los Angeles.
The demonstration will feature Marvell optical connectivity solutions working alongside Lumentum’s optical circuit switching (OCS) platform in a rack-level system. The joint setup will be displayed at Marvell’s booth during the event, scheduled for March 17–19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The companies said the technology is aimed at addressing rapidly rising data traffic driven by large-scale AI workloads. As data centers expand to support increasingly complex AI models, operators are seeking networking architectures capable of delivering higher bandwidth, lower latency and improved power efficiency.
Optical circuit switching enables direct optical connections between endpoints, allowing large AI clusters to move data more quickly while reducing power consumption. The approach also avoids intermediate packet processing and optical-electrical-optical conversions common in traditional network designs.
The demonstration will combine several Marvell products—including its Aquila 1.6T coherent-lite DSPs, Ara 1.6T PAM4 optical DSPs and the COLORZ 800 ZR/ZR+ data-center interconnect module—with Lumentum’s R300 optical circuit switch. According to the companies, the setup is designed to create high-bandwidth optical paths that can dynamically adapt to changing AI workloads while improving network efficiency.
The system will also incorporate Marvell’s RELIANT platform, which provides telemetry, analytics and automation tools intended to improve monitoring and optimization of connectivity infrastructure.
“AI is redefining every layer of the data center stack, and connectivity is at the center of that transformation,” said Xi Wang, senior vice president and general manager of the Connectivity Business Unit at Marvell. “By demonstrating Marvell optical connectivity solutions interoperating with Lumentum’s OCS platform, we’re showcasing how tomorrow’s AI networks can achieve massive gains while delivering breakthrough gains in performance, power efficiency and architectural agility.”
“AI scaling is pushing conventional packet-based networks beyond their practical limits,” said Peter Roorda, general manager of Switching at Lumentum. “The R300 optical circuit switch delivers large-port-count, software-controlled optical connectivity that enables predictable low-latency paths while reducing the power overhead associated with traditional switching layers. Our demonstration with Marvell illustrates how circuit switching and advanced DSP technologies can be combined to build scalable, high-performance AI fabrics.”
About Marvell
Marvell develops semiconductor technologies for data infrastructure used across enterprise, cloud and telecommunications networks. The company focuses on solutions that enable the movement, storage, processing and security of data, working closely with major technology firms to support next-generation digital infrastructure.
About Lumentum
Lumentum specializes in optical and photonic technologies used in communications networks, cloud computing systems and AI infrastructure. The company produces lasers, optical modules and related components designed to support high-speed data transmission and scalable connectivity in modern data centers and telecommunications systems. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Lumentum operates research, manufacturing and sales facilities globally.
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Original: Marvell and Lumentum to showcase optical circuit switching for AI data centers at OFC 2026
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