Riding the Wave of Computing Power: Why 800G...

Riding the Wave of Computing Power: Why 800G and 1.6T Optical Interconnects Are Reshaping the Future

As global data consumption accelerates and artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in every industry, the demand for higher computing power continues to skyrocket. Data centers—once simple storage hubs—are now evolving into high-density, high-bandwidth computing engines. In this transformation, next-generation optical interconnects such as 800G and 1.6T are no longer optional upgrades but essential infrastructure for enabling the next leap in performance.

1. The Computing Power Boom: What’s Driving the Shift?

AI models are growing at unprecedented rates. Training and inference workloads require massive parallelism and ultra-fast data exchange between GPUs, servers, and storage. Traditional 100G or 400G links can no longer keep pace with:

• Exploding AI data traffic
• Higher GPU cluster densities
• Ultra-low latency requirements
• Growing energy pressures in data centers

To support these trends, hyperscale operators and cloud providers are rapidly transitioning to 800G interconnects, with 1.6T deployments soon to follow.

2. 800G Optical Interconnects: The Current Mainstream Transition

Today, 800G has become the new backbone of AI and cloud data centers. Its advantages include:

• Doubling bandwidth with better efficiency

800G solutions transmit far more data using the same physical footprint as earlier generations, improving rack-level efficiency and lowering total cost of ownership.

• Designed for high-density GPU clusters

800G interconnects support massive-scale GPU training fabrics such as those used for LLM model training.

• Optimized for power and cooling

As power density rises, optical interconnects with lower energy-per-bit consumption help data centers manage heat more effectively.

• Supporting the shift toward all-optical networks

With the limitations of copper becoming evident beyond 40 meters, high-performance optical cabling like pre-terminated fiber systems has become essential for reliable transmission.

3. 1.6T: Entering the Next Era of Ultra-High Bandwidth

If 800G marks the present, 1.6T is the undeniable future.

This generation is designed to serve extreme-scale computing clusters, enabling:

• Double the bandwidth for massive AI workloads

1.6T allows GPU nodes to exchange data at unprecedented speeds, shortening training cycles for increasingly complex models.

• Higher fiber utilization efficiency

Advanced modulation technologies such as 100G PAM4 or even 200G signaling make 1.6T systems more efficient and scalable.

• Support for next-generation data center architectures

From AI supercomputing centers to national-level computing clusters, 1.6T delivers the backbone required for long-term scalability.

• Future-proof deployment strategies

Many operators are now building 800G-ready + 1.6T-reserved cabling systems, ensuring a smooth upgrade path.

4. Cabling Infrastructure: Why High-Performance Structured Cabling Matters

As optical rates climb, cabling infrastructure becomes mission-critical. High-speed transmission demands:

• Ultra-low-loss fiber systems
• High-density pre-terminated solutions
• 800G/1.6T-ready connectors (e.g., MPO/MTP, QSFP-DD, OSFP-XD)
• Precise installation quality to reduce insertion loss
• Superior electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and reliability

Poor-quality cabling can easily become the bottleneck that wastes millions in GPU investment. For large AI data centers, structured cabling is no longer considered passive—it is part of the performance stack.

5. The Road Ahead: A Computing Era Defined by Bandwidth

800G is accelerating global cloud and AI deployments today, while 1.6T will unlock the next stage of computational power. Together, they will drive the industry toward:

• Higher-density data centers
• More efficient and greener optical networks
• Shortened AI training cycles
• Greater scalability for national and enterprise computing projects

The world is entering a new phase of digital transformation, where computing power is a key productivity engine. To build the future, data centers must equip themselves with robust, scalable, and high-speed optical interconnects—starting from the foundation of 800G and moving toward 1.6T and beyond.