AI infrastructure is rapidly reshaping data center network architecture, driving demand for higher bandwidth, greater density, lower power consumption and more scalable connectivity. As AI clusters expand across racks, data halls and multiple facilities, traditional interconnect architectures are being pushed to their limits, accelerating the transition toward 800G, 1.6T, CPO, optical I/O, optical switching and other next-generation connectivity technologies.

The European Data Center Optical Connectivity Forum will bring together hyperscalers, AI infrastructure companies, data center operators, network/system vendors and the optical supply chain to discuss technology roadmaps, deployment requirements and commercial readiness. The programme will also address key challenges around reliability, serviceability, packaging, testing and qualification, with a strong focus on what still needs to be solved before next-generation optical interconnects can be deployed at scale across AI infrastructure.