iPronics,a start-up based in Spain, unveiled an Optical Circuit Switch (OCS) built entirely on a silicon photonics platform. The iPronics ONE-32 enables ultra-low latency, dynamic Layer 1 networking, and significant energy savings. As AI clusters scale and bandwidth demands double annually, the limitations of traditional electrical packet switches (EPS)—including energy inefficiencies from optical-electrical-optical (O-E-O) conversions—are becoming increasingly unsustainable. The ONE-32 addresses these challenges by delivering programmable optical interconnects that cut switch power consumption by up to 50%.
The 1U form-factor ONE-32 switch supports 32 ports with a flat O-band spectral response, sub-30 nanosecond latency, and reconfiguration speeds under 300 microseconds. Built on CMOS-compatible silicon photonics, it integrates features like gain-control routing and bandwidth transparency, making it ideal for AI scale-up and scale-out topologies. The solution allows dynamic reconfiguration of optical paths, reduces transceiver count, and minimizes latency across hyperscale AI data centers. The ONE-32 will be available in May 2025 and will be on display at iPronics’ booth (#5526) at OFC 2025 in San Francisco.
Key Features of iPronics ONE-32:
• First Optical Circuit Switch built on CMOS-based silicon photonics
• 32-port, 1U rackmount form factor
• <30 ns latency and <300 µs reconfiguration time
• Up to 50% lower switch power consumption vs. electrical packet switches
• Eliminates unnecessary O-E-O conversions
• Supports failure-resilient, programmable Layer 1 topologies
• Gain-control routing and bandwidth transparency for scalable AI interconnects
• Flat O-band spectral response, ideal for data center optics
“The ONE-32 redefines connectivity for the AI era. As the first OCS built on silicon photonics technology, it delivers unmatched performance and affordability, unlocking optical networking’s full potential for data centers,” stated Christian Dupont, CEO of iPronics.