Credo Launches 1.6T Active Light Cable for AI Networks
The 1.6T interconnect aims to improve data center power efficiency and link distance when shipping begins in 2027.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Data Centers
Live Poll
Do you believe new AI data center hardware will successfully solve current tech power and connectivity limitations?
Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. has introduced its 1.6T ZeroFlap Active Light Cable, an interconnect designed for AI data center scale-out. The product is currently in the announcement phase, with commercial shipping and Open Compute Project specification approval targeted for 2027.
Why it matters
As AI clusters grow, data centers face significant power and distance constraints with existing copper and pluggable optics. This new cable architecture aims to optimize front-end networking by offering a more efficient, long-reach alternative for high-density AI infrastructure.
The 1.6T ZeroFlap Active Light Cable supports reaches of up to 50 meters while consuming 12 watts per end. It splits 200G lanes into optical channels using NRZ modulation, targeting a mean time between failures of 100 million hours.
The players
Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd.
A provider of high-speed connectivity solutions, focusing on silicon and interconnect products for hyperscale data centers.
Open Compute Project
A collaborative community that focuses on open-source hardware designs for data centers and compute infrastructure.
The details
The interconnect utilizes arrays of micro-emitters and photodetectors integrated with flexible fiber bundles to transmit data. To ensure reliability, the cable incorporates channel redundancy and ZeroFlap link monitoring, a diagnostic system that detects and manages signal degradation or link failure. This design allows for higher density and distance than standard copper cabling, which typically suffers from signal attenuation over similar lengths.
Timeline
October 12, 2026: Credo introduced the 1.6T ZeroFlap Active Light Cable.
2027: Credo plans to initiate commercial shipping of the new cables.
2027: Credo expects to secure Open Compute Project approval for the new specification.
The Tech Race
Credo is working to establish a new industry standard through the Open Compute Project to address the limitations of current optical interconnects. This effort competes with proprietary vendor solutions by creating an open specification for short-reach micro-emitter optics.
Data center operators and network engineers can expect to evaluate these cables starting in 2027. The technology is designed to replace traditional copper and current optics in AI front-end networks to reduce power draw.
The takeaway
The industry is moving toward higher-bandwidth, lower-power interconnects to support the scaling requirements of AI training clusters. Watch for the 2027 Open Compute Project specification approval, which will signal the readiness of this technology for wide-scale integration.
Further reading
For more updates on high-density infrastructure, visit our section on Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TokenPost.
Live Poll
Do you believe new AI data center hardware will successfully solve current tech power and connectivity limitations?
