Delivering Resilient Connectivity for AI

Cisco EVP and CPO Jeetu Patel recently shared how service providers and hyperscalers must rethink their architectures to deliver the future of global connectivity in the AI era. As we head to the OFC conference next week, AI transformation will certainly be a hot topic, as it increasingly demands high-speed interconnects between data centers—and within data centers—that only fiber optics can provide.

AI is driving a massive surge in data center workloads, with IDC predicting that data generation will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.5% through 2027. Gartner expects that the use of generative AI models will influence over 90% of organizations to pursue hybrid cloud environments through 2027.

Optimizing High-Performance AI-Ready Data Centers

The role of the data center as AI becomes a pervasive, global force cannot be overstated. And, networking and interoperability are critical to scaling AI. The recently expanded partnership between Cisco and NVIDIA will accelerate AI adoption by creating interoperability between both companies’ networking architectures. This enables customers to simultaneously standardize Cisco networking and NVIDIA technology in the data center, optimizing their AI infrastructure investments with a common architecture and simplified full-stack solutions.

Quality client optics also play a critical role in supporting the massive data transfer, low latency, and resilient connectivity demanded by AI workloads. Cisco continues to expand its portfolio of high-speed optics designed for AI applications in front-end and back-end networks, including OSFP 800G modules for AI switch connectivity and QSFP112 400G modules for AI server connectivity.

These modules benefit from Cisco silicon photonics technology leadership that deliver:

• High performance, crucial to maintain the signal integrity required for AI applications
• High reliability by optimizing laser resources to reduce failures caused by active components
• High volume production to meet the scale requirements for AI connectivity

Cisco’s optics approach is an industry stand-out, combining advanced technologies, a complete portfolio, and rigorous testing methodologies, resulting in performance better than industry benchmarks. Unlike many vendors, Cisco also provides seamless interoperability across multivendor environments, delivering optics that are tested for both Cisco and third-party platforms. These qualifications and stringent validation result in reduced downtime, prevention of costly disruptions, and maximized return on AI infrastructure.

Connecting AI-Ready Data Centers

As service providers adapt their network for AI, embracing IP and Optical Convergence brings game-changing benefits. Cisco pioneered Routed Optical Networking, which is now mainstream with 300+ deployments with network operators, utilities, and large enterprises.

Lumen is revolutionizing its internet architecture for the AI economy by leveraging Routed Optical Networking. They are addressing latency and cost challenges by creating a true multi-cloud architecture. You can learn more by watching this video.

With expanded use cases from 100G to 800G links and up to 3000km reaches, Routed Optical Networking can now address access to ultra-long-haul (ULH) applications enabled by new 800G ZR/ZR+ and 400G ULH coherent pluggable modules. Cisco is a market leader in coherent pluggables, having shipped 500,000 400G ports based on the Greylock Digital Signal Processor.

We’re seeing strong interest from service providers for 400G ULH with a trial announced by Arelion over 2,253km, enabling a 35% reduction in CAPEX and 84% reduction in OPEX. According to LightCounting, Google and Meta will be primary consumers of 800ZR/ZR+ for metro and regional networks. And, Colt recently announced that it is the first provider to successfully trial enhanced performance 800G ZR+ coherent pluggable optics in their Cisco 8000 series router ports, in its production network. These Cisco 800G router-based coherent optics provide the capability to double Colt’s packet core capacity per link while reducing power per bit by 33.3%.  Arelion followed with a trial that demonstrated IP transmission at 800 Gbps over 1,069 kilometers, providing higher cost savings than currently deployed technologies.

Distributed Metro Data Center Architectures

As data center capacity scales to meet growing demands for AI, storage, and compute, metro data center architectures are becoming more distributed. The result is a greater need for single-span, high-capacity optical connectivity. Cisco offers an enhanced Open Line System for Metro and Data Center Interconnect that is a compact solution combining the line system with coherent optics in the award winning NCS 1014 transponder. It includes a new EDFA line card, pluggable QSFP-DD OTDR, and QSFP-DD tunable C band coherent probe hosted on the NCS 1014 chassis, optimized for point-to-point 400ZR DCI applications and future generations of higher baud rate transponders for high-performance, scalable, and reliable metro DCI.

Another new capability on the NCS 1014 with CIM 8 is the ability for network operators to add more capacity in their existing network by utilizing both C and L bands to enable a dramatic increase in the fiber’s total capacity while being cost-effective.

Cisco’s Active Involvement in Driving Innovation, Open Networking, and Interoperability Standards

As mentioned, AI requires more open networking and interoperability. Cisco is actively involved in numerous standards bodies and working groups—including OIF, Ethernet Alliance, Linear Pluggable Optics MSA, and Quantum Data Center Alliance—helping to advance new technologies, collaborate with other organizations, and improve open networking and interoperability. At OFC, Cisco will demonstrate interoperability on the latest Cisco routing platforms, client optics, and coherent optics at the OIF booth #5745 and Ethernet Alliance booth #5173. Cisco, Nokia, and AimValley will also demonstrate Private Line Emulation (PLE) interoperability leveraging the IETF draft PLE over Packet Switched Networks at the Nokia booth #1818 and AimValley booth #6553.

In addition to these and our booth demos, Cisco is participating in OFCnet and numerous OFC panels and workshops. One session that I wouldn’t miss is a panel discussion featuring representatives from Telefonica, Arelion, Cox, and Deutch Telecom on Interoperation of Optical Pluggable Transceivers and IP/Optical Integration.

We’re excited about what the future holds and welcome the opportunity to help you navigate this journey.

Join us at the Cisco booth #3319 to discuss these topics and more.

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