Can CPO replace optical modules
CPO packages silicon photonics devices with ASICs, and is about to replace traditional pluggable optical modules, improving energy efficiency by 3. From Jensen Huang showcasing CPO switches at GTC 2025 to a wide range of vendors demonstrating optical engines integrated inside ASIC packages at OFC 2025, CPOs are everywhere. However, it's worth noting that Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Arista and a long-standing visionary in data centre. LPO (Linear Pluggable Optics) preserves the pluggable i-transceiver form factor but removes the in-module DSP/CDR and uses a "linear" electrical interface — delivering lower power while keeping hot-swap modularity. As data demands grow, these systems face limitations such as bandwidth constraints, latency issues, and space limitations.
Read More
