IPEC established the 1.6T optical module standard project, leading a new chapter in AI intelligent computing optical interconnection - Xunshi Optical Communication Network (iccsz.com)

Abstract: Recently, IPEC (The Inrnational Photonics & Electronics Committee) established a 1.6T optical module standard project, which is jointly led by Meituan, China Telecom and Huawei, and has won the awards including Kuaishou, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Xinhua III, Fiberhome, FOC, Safe, Huagong Zhengyuan, Hisense Broadband, Accelink, SiFotonics, YOFC, and Inscar, Orange Branch and other IPEC members, JD was also invited to participate in the discussion and contribution of this standard project.

Recently, IPEC (The Inrnational Photonics & Electronics Committee, International Optoelectronic Commission) project 1.6T optical module standard project, the project was completed in the IPEC Technical Committee PMD Working Group, the standard was jointly led by Meituan, China Telecom and Huawei, and has been approved by Kuaishou, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Xinhua III, Fiberhome, FOC, Solids, Huagong Zhengyuan, Hisense Broadband, Accelink, With the support of IPEC members such as SiFotonics, YOFC, Inscar, and Orange, JD.com was also invited to participate in the discussion and contribution of this standard project.

According to Lightcounting's forecast, the application of AI clusters will increase rapidly from 2024, and it is expected that by 2028, the demand for AI clusters will account for 38% of the entire optical module market, and in the proportion of high-speed optical module shipments, 1.6T optical modules are expected to be commercialized in 2027 and begin to gradually increase.

In the AI cluster scenario, the proportion of applications with a transmission distance of less than 2km is the highest, and from the perspective of Lightcounting, the proportion of 500m and 2km applications in AI cluster applications is relatively high, and will gradually increase in 2026.

In order to meet the market demand, guide the upgrading and development of the high-speed optical module industry, and combine the current situation of the technological development of the optical module industry, IPEC The 1.6T optical module standard focuses on the short-range direct inspection solution, the GEN1 standard is based on 200G/Lane discussion, and the GEN2 standard will evolve and upgrade to 400G/Lane in the future, of which 1.6T The GEN1 standard discussion scenarios cover 50m and 100m multi-mode VCSELs, and 500m and 2km are expected to be discussed based on PSM8 and 2*FR4 solutions. The standard will be officially established in July 2024, and it is expected to release the optical module specifications for the corresponding scenarios of GEN1 in 2025 and the optical module specifications for the corresponding scenarios of GEN2 in 2027.

In addition to launching the 1.6T standard project, IPEC also plans to carry out a static display of 1.6T optical modules and related chips around the theme of 1.6T high-speed interconnection at the Shenzhen Optical Expo in September.

About IPEC

The IPEC International Optoelectronic Commission (www.ipec-std.org) is committed to establishing a fully open, transparent, fair and just optoelectronic standards and optoelectronics industry platform, and focuses on the standardization and strategic roadmap research of optical chips, optical/electrical devices, optical modules and other solutions in related fields to meet the optoelectronic needs of 5G, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and other market applications.

IPEC is registered in Switzerland and is open to anyone wishing to join. All members have the opportunity to participate in the development of IPEC standards on a fair and transparent basis.