Global Optical Interconnects Market - 2023-2030

Overview

Global Optical Interconnects Market reached US$ 14.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 29.3 billion by 2030, growing with a CAGR of 13.2% during the forecast period 2023-2030.

The rising demand for high-speed transfer of data especially in data centers and telecommunications networks is one of the significant drivers of the market. Optical interconnects transmit the data at very high speed which makes them essential for handling the rising volume of the data traffic. The support for cloud computing in data centers and storage created a substantial demand for optical interconnected solutions.

As service and application are more data-intensive there is a continuous need for larger bandwidth networks. High-definition video streaming and virtual reality are supported through optical interconnects, providing essential bandwidth. Comparing optical interconnects to other conventional copper interconnects, they are more energy-efficient. The adoption of 5G networks with robust and high-capacity interconnection solutions.

According to news published in Telecom.com, in September 2023, India is expected to become one of the top 5G ecosystems globally in the near future, according to Mahendra Nahata, Managing Director of HFCL (Himachal Futuristic Communications Limited) and also he mentioned that the establishment of the 'Bharat 6G Alliance' will contribute to this development. The optical connectivity will range from 25fkm to 35mn fkm.

Asia-Pacific is among the growing regions in the global Optical Interconnects market covering more than 1/3rd of the market and the region witnessed significant growth in data center construction and expansion, driven by the increasing adoption of cloud services and digital transformation initiatives. Optical interconnects are crucial for connecting servers, storage and networking equipment within these data centers, supporting the growing demand for data processing and storage.

Dynamics

Growth in the Adoption of 5G Networks

5G networks require significantly higher bandwidth to support the increased data traffic, ultra-low latency and massive connectivity. In the ability to carry data at high rates over greater distances, optical interconnects are well suited to satisfy these bandwidth needs. In order to support applications like driverless vehicles, remote surgery and augmented reality, 5G networks are designed to have extremely low latency. Optical interconnects offer low-latency transmission of data, making them essential for meeting 5G's low-latency goals.

For instance, on 2 October 2022, STL introduced India's first multicore fiber and cable to enhance fiber connectivity, particularly to meet the demands of 5G technology and this innovation is designed to carry multiple light beams within the fiber cable, allowing for high-density data transmission. In the context of India's transition to 5G networks, increased fiberization is necessary to accommodate the transmission of large volumes of data. India currently has relatively low fiberization rates, with only around 30% of Indian towers currently fiberized.

Collaborations Between Businesses Drive Market Growth

The ever-growing demand for data and higher bandwidth capabilities necessitates innovative solutions. Collaborations enable companies to pool resources and expertise to develop and deploy high-speed optical interconnects that can meet these demands. Collaborative efforts often involve partners from different regions, allowing companies to expand their reach and access new markets and this global reach is essential for addressing the increasing demand for optical interconnects worldwide.

For instance, on 26 March 2022, FS.com, a provider of high-speed communication solutions for data centers, enterprises and telecom networks, partnered with Rosenberger, a leading manufacturer of high-speed interconnect solutions and their collaboration focuses on supplying NEX10-FO and Q-RMC outdoor connectors for reliable and durable fiber connectivity in challenging outdoor environments and these connectors are designed to meet the demands of mobile communication networks, 5G base stations, smart grids, high-speed railways and industrial automation, offering efficient installation and stable data transfer.

Technology Advancement

The exponential growth in data traffic, driven by applications like video streaming, cloud computing, IoT and 5G, necessitates high-speed and efficient data transmission. Optical interconnects offer the bandwidth and speed required to handle this surge in data. Data centers are continuously expanding to accommodate the growing volume of data. Optical interconnects enable faster data transmission between servers and data storage, reducing latency and improving overall performance.

For instance, on 22 Feburay 2023, Nubis Communications unveiled a groundbreaking optical technology platform designed for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (ML/AI) networks. This platform offers high density and ultra-low power consumption, enabling the construction of networks that can fully leverage the processing power of ML/AI clusters.

Furthermore, Nubis' technology is based on a 16 x 112 Gbps Silicon Photonics engine that supports over 500 Gbps per millimeter of full-duplex edge I/O density. Nubis has also introduced its first product, the XT1600 optical engine, which has a total capacity of 1.6 Tbps optical transmit and 1.6 Tbps optical receive carried over 16 fiber pairs.

Expensive to Install and Signal Loss

Optical components like lasers, detectors and optical fibers, can be expensive to manufacture and maintain. The initial setup cost for optical interconnects can be higher than traditional copper-based solutions. Optical interconnects involve more complex technology and infrastructure than copper-based alternatives and this complexity can make installation, troubleshooting and maintenance more challenging.

Optical fibers are delicate and can be easily damaged by bending, twisting or crushing and this fragility requires careful handling and protective measures, especially in industrial or harsh environments. Precise alignment of optical components, such as connectors and transceivers, is critical for efficient data transmission. Misalignment can lead to signal loss and reduced performance.

Segment Analysis

The global optical interconnects market is segmented based on product, interconnect level, fiber mode, data rate, distance, application and region.

Adoption of Connectors Boosts the Market

The rapid growth in the development of data centers that support cloud computing, big data and emerging technologies, drives the demand for high-speed and high-bandwidth optical interconnection. The expansion of fibre to the home networks for delivering of high-speed internet access to homes and businesses through optical fibers. Optical interconnects are essential for ensuring consistent broadband connectivity.

For instance, on 16 August 2023, Optical physical interconnect technologies were a focal point at FMS, offering the potential for high-performance communication and these optical interconnects can be used across various scales, from chiplets to data centers. Lightelligence, for instance, introduced optical interconnects for PCIe and CXL connectivity, this technology extends communication reach, allowing for memory pooling and scalable CXL fabrics in composable data centers.

Geographical Penetration

Rising Advancement in Cloud Service Providers

North America is dominating the global optical interconnects market and is a major hub for some of the world's largest technology companies, cloud service providers and data center operators. The continuous advancement in data centers which supports cloud computing, content delivery and digital services drives the demand for high-speed optical interconnects.

For instance, on 12 June 2023, Lumen Technologies unveiled ExaSwitch, a network interconnection ecosystem developed in partnership with Google and Microsoft and this platform allows organizations with high bandwidth requirements to dynamically and rapidly route their traffic between networks without the need for third-party intervention. ExaSwitch aims to replace legacy cross-connects with a more agile and automated solution for network interconnections.

Competitive Landscape

The major global players in the market include Vanguard Group, Inc., Molex LLC, Amphenol Corporation, TE Connectivity Ltd., Go! Foton Holdings, Inc., Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., Cisco Systems, Inc., Corning Incorporated, Coherent Corp. and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd..

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

As more people worked and studied from home, there was a surge in demand for data centers and cloud services to support remote work, online learning and digital entertainment and this increased demand for high-speed data transmission, driving the need for efficient optical interconnect solutions within data centers. The pandemic demonstrated the significance of reliable, fast internet connectivity is, accelerated the rollout of 5G networks..

In the 5G infrastructure, optical interconnects play a significant role in enabling high-speed and low-latency data transmission. The pandemic disrupted global supply chains, affecting the production and availability of optical interconnect components. Delays in manufacturing and shipping impacted the rollout of optical interconnect solutions. The rise of remote work, there was increased demand for video conferencing and collaboration tools.

The pandemic led to disruptions in research and development activities in the optical interconnects sector. However, it also underscored the importance of advancing technology to meet the demands of remote work and digital connectivity. The healthcare sector saw a growing emphasis on telemedicine and remote patient monitoring during the pandemic.

AI Impact

AI algorithms can analyze network traffic patterns and optimize the routing of optical signals in real-time and this helps reduce latency, minimize congestion and improve the overall efficiency of optical networks.AI-powered predictive maintenance can be applied to optical components such as lasers and transceivers. By analyzing data from sensors and performance metrics, AI can predict when optical components are likely to fail, enabling proactive maintenance and minimizing downtime.

AI-driven automation that streamlines the management and configuration of optical interconnects. AI systems can detect and respond to network anomalies, reroute traffic to avoid failures and dynamically allocate resources for optimal performance. AI can be used to strengthen the security of optical interconnects. Machine learning algorithms can detect and respond to potential security threats, including intrusion attempts and unauthorized access, protecting sensitive optical data.

According to a paper published Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Large-scale AI systems, particularly deep neural networks are crucial for modern online services. However, training these models can be time-consuming and optimizing the training process involves considerations of computation, communication and network topology. Current data center networks struggle to meet the high bandwidth and low latency requirements of emerging AI workloads.

Russia- Ukraine War Impact

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine can disrupt the global supply chain for optical interconnect components and materials. Ukraine is a significant producer of certain raw materials used in the electronics and optical industries. Any disruptions in the supply of these materials can impact the production of optical interconnect products. Geopolitical tensions arising from the war may result in trade restrictions, export controls or sanctions that impact the international trade of optical interconnect technology.

Companies in the optical interconnect sector may encounter challenges related to complying with export regulations and trade restrictions. Geopolitical conflicts can give rise to economic uncertainty both in the affected regions and on a global scale. Uncertainty can impact investments in research and development, infrastructure and technology upgrades in the optical interconnect industry.

By Product

• Connectors
• Cable Assemblies
• Optical Transceivers
• Free Space Optics
• Silicon Photonics
• Optical Engines

By Interconnect Level

• Metro and Long-haul Optical Interconnect
• Board-to-Board and Rank-level Optical Interconnect
• Chip-and Board-level Optical Interconnect

By Fiber Mode

• Single Mode Fiber
• Multimode Fiber

By Data Rate

• Less than 10 Gbps
• 10 Gbps to 40 Gbps
• 41 Gbps to 100 Gbps
• More than 100 Gbps

By Distance

• Less than 1 Km
• 1 km to 10 km
• 11 km to 100 km
• More than 100 Km

By Application

• Data Communication
• Telecommunication

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico

• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Rest of Europe

• South America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of South America

• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific

• Middle East and Africa

Key Developments

• In February 2022, The LightCONEX VPX optical interconnect system, developed by Smiths Interconnect, is designed to meet the needs of rugged embedded computing applications and sensor systems. It adheres to the VITA 66.5 draft standard and aligns with the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Technical Standard for VPX systems.
• In December 2021, Intel Labs established the Intel Research Center for Integrated Photonics for Data Center Interconnects to drive innovation in optical input/output (I/O) technology, with a particular emphasis on integrated photonics technology, CMOS circuits, link architecture and package integration for fiber-optic data center interconnects.
• In October 2022, NAI expanded its facilities in Mexico and China to establish Centers of Excellence (CoEs) and New Product Introduction departments dedicated to designing, prototyping and testing interconnect assembly products and these specialized operations focus on cable assemblies, harnesses, box builds, panel builds, fiber optic interconnects and copper.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the global optical interconnects market segmentation based on product, interconnect level, fiber mode, data rate, distance, application and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.
• Excel data sheet with numerous data points of optical interconnects market-level with all segments.
• PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
• Product mapping available as excel consisting of key products of all the major players.

The global optical interconnects market report would provide approximately 85 tables, 90 figures and 186 Pages.

Target Audience 2023

• Manufacturers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies