Lumentum has announced the R64 Optical Circuit Switch (OCS), expanding its optical and photonic technology offerings for data centers. The R64 platform is a 64×64-port device built on Lumentum’s established micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology, designed for lower-port-count applications within artificial intelligence (AI) data center networks. Lumentum reports that R64 will be introduced at the ECOC exhibition in Copenhagen from September 29 to October 1.
According to Lumentum, the R64 OCS complements the company’s existing high-port-count R300 OCS and utilizes decades of in-house MEMS engineering used in telecom environments. Lumentum claims that its OCS solutions have exceeded one trillion field mirror operating hours. The R64 is intended to deliver high reliability and optical performance for AI-focused data center deployments.
The R64 OCS delivers several technical features, according to Lumentum:
- Low power consumption: The device operates below 150 W while supporting over 100 Tbps of optical throughput. Lumentum claims an 80 percent power reduction when compared to conventional packet-based switches.
- Optical performance: MEMS-based switching eliminates the need for active optical media, producing very low insertion loss and minimal polarization dependence.
- Flexible design: The R64 can scale up to 72×72 ports, supports uni- or bi-directional operations, and enables any-to-any fiber routing, removing restrictions typically associated with OCS bi-directional applications.
- Wide band operation: The platform is optimized for O-band applications and also offers strong performance in the C-band, using bandwidth-agnostic MEMS technology.
- Form factor and stability: The 2RU rackmount unit includes redundant power supplies and fans. Lumentum states that the MEMS implementation is stable over its lifetime and does not require feedback mechanisms, which reduces system complexity and avoids introducing noise into optical signals.
Lumentum notes that R64 systems will begin sampling in the fourth quarter of 2025, with broader availability planned for the second half of 2026. The primary target application is the scaling of AI data centers. The company also notes prior adoption of its components in telecom, enterprise, and other data center networks.
Source: Lumentum
