Originally posted on Data Center POST.
The demand for data center capacity continues to soar, driven by AI, high performance computing, and ever-growing digital services. But, while much of the conversation has focused on compute power and cooling advances, one essential part of the infrastructure is often overlooked – the network switch.
Switching plays a crucial role in how data moves within a data center. Every time data passes between servers or storage, it travels through switches, which route traffic and keep workloads running smoothly. In traditional data centers, these switches convert data signals from light (optical) to electricity (electronic) to make routing decisions, then back to light for transmission. This process happens millions of times per second and consumes significant energy, while also generating plenty of heat.
Optical switching – the new path
As data center workloads become denser and more dynamic, the network switching layer is emerging as a new bottleneck. Not only does it add to the overall energy footprint, but it also places extra strain on cooling systems, impacting both performance and sustainability goals.
One promising solution is optical switching. Unlike traditional designs, optical switches route data entirely in the light domain, removing the need for constant optoelectronic conversions. This can cut energy use dramatically while also reducing latency.
Companies like Finchetto are pioneering fully optical, packet-level switching technologies that deliver ultra-low power consumption and high performance, helping data centers scale efficiently without ramping up cooling and energy costs.
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