Lumentum, Astera Labs and Corning Demonstrate Optical PCIe Connectivity for AI Infrastructure

Lumentum Holdings (NASDAQ:LITE), Astera Labs (NASDAQ:ALAB) and Corning Incorporated (NASDAQ:GLW) have announced a joint demonstration of optical connectivity technology designed to support high-performance artificial intelligence computing systems.

The companies are presenting the PCIe-over-optics proof-of-concept system at the 2026 OCP Global Summit in San Jose, California, taking place from 12 to 15 October. The demonstration is being held at Astera Labs’ booth B34.

The system combines Astera Labs’ Scorpio Smart Fabric Switch, Lumentum’s 1060-nanometre vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) optical interconnect platform and Corning’s multimode fibre connectivity technology.

According to the companies, the demonstration is designed to support multiple 32 Gb/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) optical channels over multimode fibre while maintaining an error-free PCIe 5.0 connection.

The optical interconnect incorporates high-density VCSEL and photodetector arrays, using two-dimensional array configurations and backside lens technology. The design draws on Lumentum’s established manufacturing platform for three-dimensional sensing components used in smartphones.

The companies said the technology is intended to address limitations associated with conventional electrical connections in rack-scale AI infrastructure, including transmission distance, cable density, signal integrity, power consumption and thermal management.

As AI computing systems expand, connecting processors, accelerators and other hardware components across larger configurations has become an important infrastructure consideration.

Matt Sysak, Chief Technology Officer at Lumentum, said optical technology could help address connectivity requirements as AI systems increase in scale.

“AI infrastructure is pushing optical connectivity closer to the compute system where reach, density, and power represent significant challenges,” Sysak said. “This demonstration with Astera Labs and Corning shows how Lumentum’s 1060 nm VCSEL platform can extend PCIe connectivity and unlock a whole new class of functionality.”

Adit Narasimha, Senior Vice President of the Signal Connectivity Group at Astera Labs, highlighted the need for connectivity solutions capable of supporting AI systems beyond individual server racks.

“As AI clusters scale to unprecedented levels, we are breaking the constraints of single rack-level architectures,” Narasimha said.

Corning is supplying the multimode fibre connectivity used in the demonstration, with the company focusing on the physical infrastructure required to support higher-density optical connections.

“As optical links move closer to compute devices, fiber connectivity must support increasing density, precision, and scalability,” said Claude Echahamian, Vice President and General Manager of Emerging Businesses and EMEA at Corning Optical Communications.

The joint demonstration represents an early-stage evaluation of optical PCIe connectivity for AI computing environments rather than an announcement of commercial deployment.

The companies did not disclose a commercial availability timetable or financial details associated with the technology.

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