VIAVI brings HSE-800 platform to China Optical Expo
20 Feb 2024
The 2023 China International Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE 2023) was held grandly at the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center. VIAVI, as a leader in the field of optical network testing, unveiled its new High-Speed Ethernet (HSE) testing solution, the HSE-800, marking the first time the HSE-800 platform has been showcased in China.
With the emergence of AI mega-models like ChatGPT, AI has rapidly demonstrated its enormous potential to revolutionize the economy and society. AI mega-models require massive amounts of data for training and rely on high-speed optical interconnects within data centers. The optical communication industry, especially in the field of optical modules, has attracted close attention from both capital markets and the industry at large. What VIAVI showcased at this Optoelectronics Expo is not only a testing platform for the latest generation of 800G optical interconnects but also an early layout for next-generation 1.6T optical communication.
According to reports, representatives from major internet/cloud companies visited VIAVI's booth on the first day of the expo, expressing strong interest in the HSE-800 platform. This is closely related to the arrival of the AI era. During an interview with C114, VIAVI's Technical Director for Greater China, Sha Huijun, conducted a thorough analysis of the industrial changes facing optical communication in the AI era, especially the demand for testing.
Sha Huijun emphasized the significance of 800G optical testing at this juncture. The competition driven by AI mega-models compels major cloud companies to commercialize cutting-edge technologies, fearing they might miss the ticket to the AI era. From the perspective of optical modules, the commercial pace of the latest generation of 800G optical modules has greatly accelerated, with some cloud companies already deploying them. It is estimated that shipments will reach millions next year, if not more.
Market research firm LightCounting recently forecasted that the demand for optical modules used in AI systems is very strong, which will begin to impact the market in the second half of 2023 and have an even greater impact next year. Over the next five years, the total sales of optical modules for use in AI clusters will reach $17.6 billion.
Sha Huijun also revealed that with the advent of the AI era, changes are occurring in the optical module industry. For example, chip manufacturers are integrating with silicon photonics, and there are innovations and challenges in optical interconnection between boards. Testing companies play an indispensable role in helping the industry translate innovative ideas and technologies into practical applications.
800G testing is timely, as AI mega-models accelerate the iteration process, shortening the window of technological development. The HSE-800 platform has a significant value proposition: it has sufficient bandwidth to meet the capacity needs of the industry for the next three to five years, helping optical module manufacturers smoothly transition and pre-research next-generation 1.6T technology without increasing investment in testing equipment.
Furthermore, VIAVI is cloudifying its testing software and pushing it from the cloud, allowing users to purchase boards on demand, thus reducing the initial procurement cost. The HSE-800 platform is a multi-dimensional testing platform tailored to customers across the industry chain, including optical module manufacturers, optical chip manufacturers, switch manufacturers, internet/cloud companies, etc. VIAVI provides customized solutions based on different customer budgets.
In addition, VIAVI has rich industry experience to assist customers. Especially for internet/cloud companies, which urgently need to build their own AI data centers and hope to deploy advanced optical interconnection technologies to enhance the competitiveness of AI mega-models. VIAVI, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has always maintained a leading position in the field of optical network testing and has abundant cases of high-speed optical network testing, providing customers with case references and network insights.
Of course, operators are also very interested in the HSE-800 platform. Sha Huijun revealed, "Senior technical experts from operators have visited VIAVI's booth and are amazed at the progress in optical network testing. In addition, we have significantly increased port density without sacrificing signal quality. Customers are very concerned about this and have understood the capabilities of the HSE-800 platform."
Iquan, VIAVI's Global Business Development Manager for Optical Transmission, who lived in China for 11 years and is currently based in Germany, also expressed his feelings. He witnessed many Chinese companies' booths at the Optoelectronics Expo and saw the thriving scene of China's optical communication industry. VIAVI hopes to launch its latest products in China to better support its colleagues in the region and achieve business growth.
"We want to seize the opportunities brought by AI mega-models, utilize our accumulated expertise in the industry, support more optical interconnection infrastructure projects, and support end-to-end industrial chain development," Sha Huijun said. "At our booth, many customers had different concerns, all of which were satisfactorily addressed."
With the emergence of AI mega-models like ChatGPT, AI has rapidly demonstrated its enormous potential to revolutionize the economy and society. AI mega-models require massive amounts of data for training and rely on high-speed optical interconnects within data centers. The optical communication industry, especially in the field of optical modules, has attracted close attention from both capital markets and the industry at large. What VIAVI showcased at this Optoelectronics Expo is not only a testing platform for the latest generation of 800G optical interconnects but also an early layout for next-generation 1.6T optical communication.
According to reports, representatives from major internet/cloud companies visited VIAVI's booth on the first day of the expo, expressing strong interest in the HSE-800 platform. This is closely related to the arrival of the AI era. During an interview with C114, VIAVI's Technical Director for Greater China, Sha Huijun, conducted a thorough analysis of the industrial changes facing optical communication in the AI era, especially the demand for testing.
Sha Huijun emphasized the significance of 800G optical testing at this juncture. The competition driven by AI mega-models compels major cloud companies to commercialize cutting-edge technologies, fearing they might miss the ticket to the AI era. From the perspective of optical modules, the commercial pace of the latest generation of 800G optical modules has greatly accelerated, with some cloud companies already deploying them. It is estimated that shipments will reach millions next year, if not more.
Market research firm LightCounting recently forecasted that the demand for optical modules used in AI systems is very strong, which will begin to impact the market in the second half of 2023 and have an even greater impact next year. Over the next five years, the total sales of optical modules for use in AI clusters will reach $17.6 billion.
Sha Huijun also revealed that with the advent of the AI era, changes are occurring in the optical module industry. For example, chip manufacturers are integrating with silicon photonics, and there are innovations and challenges in optical interconnection between boards. Testing companies play an indispensable role in helping the industry translate innovative ideas and technologies into practical applications.
800G testing is timely, as AI mega-models accelerate the iteration process, shortening the window of technological development. The HSE-800 platform has a significant value proposition: it has sufficient bandwidth to meet the capacity needs of the industry for the next three to five years, helping optical module manufacturers smoothly transition and pre-research next-generation 1.6T technology without increasing investment in testing equipment.
Furthermore, VIAVI is cloudifying its testing software and pushing it from the cloud, allowing users to purchase boards on demand, thus reducing the initial procurement cost. The HSE-800 platform is a multi-dimensional testing platform tailored to customers across the industry chain, including optical module manufacturers, optical chip manufacturers, switch manufacturers, internet/cloud companies, etc. VIAVI provides customized solutions based on different customer budgets.
In addition, VIAVI has rich industry experience to assist customers. Especially for internet/cloud companies, which urgently need to build their own AI data centers and hope to deploy advanced optical interconnection technologies to enhance the competitiveness of AI mega-models. VIAVI, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has always maintained a leading position in the field of optical network testing and has abundant cases of high-speed optical network testing, providing customers with case references and network insights.
Of course, operators are also very interested in the HSE-800 platform. Sha Huijun revealed, "Senior technical experts from operators have visited VIAVI's booth and are amazed at the progress in optical network testing. In addition, we have significantly increased port density without sacrificing signal quality. Customers are very concerned about this and have understood the capabilities of the HSE-800 platform."
Iquan, VIAVI's Global Business Development Manager for Optical Transmission, who lived in China for 11 years and is currently based in Germany, also expressed his feelings. He witnessed many Chinese companies' booths at the Optoelectronics Expo and saw the thriving scene of China's optical communication industry. VIAVI hopes to launch its latest products in China to better support its colleagues in the region and achieve business growth.
"We want to seize the opportunities brought by AI mega-models, utilize our accumulated expertise in the industry, support more optical interconnection infrastructure projects, and support end-to-end industrial chain development," Sha Huijun said. "At our booth, many customers had different concerns, all of which were satisfactorily addressed."