Quantifi Photonics unveiled the ELSFP 1000 Series, the first External Laser Small Form-Factor Pluggable (ELSFP) solution implemented in a PXI form factor, targeting scalable test environments for co-packaged optics (CPO), photonic integrated circuits (PICs), and optical modules. The company announced the platform ahead of its debut at Photonics West 2026.
The ELSFP 1000 Series delivers multi-channel, high-power continuous-wave (CW) optical output designed to mirror deployed network conditions inside validation and manufacturing test setups. By combining the ELSFP Implementation Agreement with an industry-standard PXI architecture, the system integrates into existing test infrastructure while supporting high channel density and rack-scale scalability.
Quantifi positions ELSFP as a foundational element for external laser delivery in CPO manufacturing, where separating lasers from photonic engines simplifies system design and thermal management. Bringing instrument-grade ELSFP capability into PXI aims to accelerate development, validation, and production testing as CPO moves toward higher-volume deployment.
- First PXI-based implementation of the ELSFP standard for external CW optical power
- Eight optical channels per module with MPO connectivity for high-density fan-out
- 1311 nm wavelength with PM1300 fiber outputs for polarization-sensitive testing
- Output power options up to 25 dBm per channel (also 23 dBm and 20 dBm variants)
- Compact PXIe two-slot module optimized for dense, rack-mounted test systems
- ELSFP-compliant and designed to support future modules up to Power Class 6 (30 W)
“Ramping CPO and PIC manufacturing test capability demands reliable high-channel-count, high-power optical sources. The ELSFP 1000 Series combines the ELSFP standard with PXI to deliver unmatched density, flexibility and performance for multi-channel test environments,” said Kees Propstra, VP of Product Marketing at Quantifi Photonics.
🌐 Analysis
The introduction aligns with broader industry efforts to standardize external laser architectures as CPO transitions from lab validation to manufacturing scale. By anchoring ELSFP in PXI, Quantifi addresses a gap between pluggable-focused laser sources and high-channel-count production test requirements, while competing vendors emphasize discrete benchtop sources or custom rack solutions. The move also reflects growing demand for test platforms that scale in step with multi-hundred-channel photonic engines expected in next-generation AI and data center interconnects.
Quantifi Photonics was acquired by Teradyne in mid-2025, bringing a specialist in photonic IC, co-packaged optics, and pluggable optics test systems into one of the world’s largest automated test and measurement suppliers. The deal followed an agreement announced earlier in the year and positions Quantifi within Teradyne’s test portfolio as demand accelerates for scalable, high-volume manufacturing of photonics used in AI data centers, telecom networks, and advanced computing platforms. As part of Teradyne, Quantifi continues to operate under its own brand while gaining access to Teradyne’s global manufacturing reach, customer base, and capital resources, reflecting broader consolidation across the photonics test ecosystem as optical integration moves from research into volume production.
