CST Global Co-founds Multi-source Integrated Photonics Group

Companies to define a new, industry-standard for high wavelength count, O-band, DFB, continuous wave (CW) laser sources

CST Global has announced that it is founding member of a group of companies signed up to a multi-source agreement (MSA) to define a new, industry-standard for high wavelength count, O-band, DFB, continuous wave (CW) laser sources.

CST Global is helping to spearhead the standardisation, along with industry leaders and household names, Arista, Ayar Labs, imec, Intel, Lumentum, Luminous Computing, Quintessent, Sumitomo Electric, II-VI and Macom. The CW lasers are critical to the integrated photonics devices used in next-generation artificial intelligence and data-centre applications.

Billy McLaughlin, MD at CST Global, said, “The MSA will initially define a specification for the optical interface of the Continuous-Wave Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CW-WDM) laser sources. The specification will be made available throughout the photonics industry, allowing the development of compatible products from multiple vendors. It is seen as a decisive step to enhance market growth, improve customer choice, and encourage competition.”

Andrew McKee, CTO at CST Global, said: “The standardisation of optical components is critical to developing high-volume, low-cost, laser solutions in future. Using our InP100, commercial, laser platform, the CW-WDM MSA will enable CST Global to provide next generation DFB lasers in a more standard format. This will eliminate the high levels of complex customisation we often see today.”

The MSA also includes ‘Observer' members comprising Nvidia, AMF, Axalume, Coherent Solutions, Furukawa Electric, Global Foundries and Scintil Photonics.