01 Jan 0001
00:00 - 00:00
Multi-core fiber (MCF) is a promising solution to address the capacity limits in current optical networks. While MCF technologies are already gaining traction in submarine systems, their commercial viability for high-density terrestrial networks still must be proven. This workshop will focus on MCF application in intra-data center and campus networks, where AI/ML workloads are driving unprecedented connectivity demands. Deployment challenges include evaluating multiple integration models—ranging from fanout-based terminations to fully integrated multicore transceiver modules—each with distinct implications for connectivity, scalability, total cost of ownership, and operational complexity. A key consideration is how MCF can better meet the demands of emerging AI/ML workloads compared to other interconnect solutions. This workshop will explore the viability of MCF in data center applications, discussing its benefits, challenges, integration models, and technical and commercial considerations.
The key questions to address in this workshop are:
- What are the primary benefits and challenges to MCF adoption in data centers?
- How do different MCF-transceiver connectivity approaches, utilizing standalone or co-packaged fanouts or integrated solutions, impact performance and operations?
- Will the industry converge on a single architecture or support multiple approaches?
- Can MCF better meet AI/ML interconnect demands than SMF and other options?
Organizers
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Filipe Ferreira
University College London, UnitedKingdom
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Andrey Kobyakov
Corning, USA
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Victor Kopp
Chiral Photonics Inc., USA
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Atsushi Nakamura
NTT, Japan