Kyocera Launches PCIe® 6.0-Compatible Pluggable Optoelectronic Module, Driving High-Speed, Energy-Efficient AI Data Centers
Kyocera Corporation (President: Hideo Tanimoto, hereinafter “Kyocera”) (TOKYO:6971) today announced a major advancement in data center connectivity with the development of a pluggable optoelectronic module, OSFP-XD, supporting the PCIe® 6.0 standard. This new addition to Kyocera’s OPTINITY® optoelectronic module series is designed to accelerate optical communication implementation while reducing power consumption in next-generation data centers, offering operators scalable, high-performance solutions for emerging AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.
Advancing Optical Interconnects for PCIe® 6.0
Kyocera has a long-standing history of developing onboard-type optoelectronic modules that convert electrical signals from CPUs, GPUs, and other high-performance devices into optical signals, enabling high-speed data transmission. With the new OSFP-XD module, Kyocera extends its capabilities to PCIe® 6.0, achieving 64 GT/s per lane x16, representing a significant leap in high-capacity, high-bandwidth interconnects.
The pluggable nature of the OSFP-XD module provides a level of flexibility unmatched by traditional onboard modules, allowing data center operators to deploy and replace modules quickly, integrate into existing systems, and expand capacity with minimal disruption. This innovation ensures operators can maintain optimal performance while managing costs, energy consumption, and operational complexity.
The development of this module was achieved in partnership with AuthenX, Inc., a leading startup specializing in silicon photonics and optical interconnect technology. Kyocera’s strategic investment in AuthenX through the Kyocera Venture Innovation Fund I (KVIF-I) has enabled the two companies to leverage complementary expertise—AuthenX’s advanced optical module design and Kyocera’s decades of experience in PCIe® protocol processing and signal quality management—to produce a next-generation solution for high-speed AI and HPC environments.
The OSFP-XD module will be showcased at OFC 2026, the premier international exhibition for the optical communications industry, held in Los Angeles, USA, from March 17 to 19, 2026, at the AuthenX booth (#5204). Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the module’s capabilities firsthand, including its support for long-distance optical transmission, power-efficient operation, and scalable deployment in AI data centers.
Meeting the Demands of AI and High-Performance Computing
The rise of generative AI, machine learning, and other data-intensive applications has dramatically increased the volume of data processed in modern data centers. GPUs, AI accelerators, and other high-performance computing devices generate massive amounts of data that must be transferred quickly and reliably across racks and even between data center floors. Conventional electrical PCIe® connections face inherent limitations, including signal degradation over longer distances, higher power consumption, and the need for retimers to maintain signal integrity, which can further increase latency and reduce energy efficiency.
Optical PCIe® interconnects, such as Kyocera’s new OSFP-XD module, address these challenges by enabling low-loss, high-fidelity transmission over distances of several hundred meters—far exceeding the typical 10-meter limit of electrical wiring. By eliminating the need for retimers, optical connections reduce energy consumption, improve cooling efficiency, and allow for greater flexibility in equipment placement, resulting in more efficient and maintainable data center operations.
Key Features of OSFP-XD
- High-Speed, High-Capacity PCIe® 6.0 Communication
The OSFP-XD module leverages PCIe® 6.0 x16 connectivity to deliver unprecedented data transfer rates of 64 GT/s per lane. This high-capacity optical transmission enables fast communication between CPUs, GPUs, AI accelerators, and storage devices, meeting the performance demands of next-generation AI workloads and large-scale computing environments. - Power-Efficient Operation
By converting electrical signals to optical signals, OSFP-XD eliminates the need for power-intensive retimers used in conventional PCIe® electrical connections. The result is a significant reduction in energy consumption across the data center, contributing to lower operational costs and a smaller environmental footprint. - Pluggable Flexibility for Scalable Deployment
The pluggable OSFP-XD module allows data center operators to integrate high-speed optical interconnects into existing systems with minimal disruption. This flexibility facilitates upgrades, expansions, and reconfigurations, ensuring operators can meet evolving computational demands without extensive infrastructure changes. - Support for Long-Distance Connections
Optical fiber transmission enables connections spanning several hundred meters, compared to the under-10-meter limit of conventional electrical wiring. This capability provides operators with the freedom to optimize equipment placement, enhance cooling efficiency, and improve system maintainability while maintaining high-performance communication.
Collaboration with AuthenX for Advanced Optical Interconnects
Kyocera’s collaboration with AuthenX has been central to the development of OSFP-XD. AuthenX, a Taiwanese startup specializing in silicon photonics, brings expertise in optical transceiver design, metalenses, and integrated photonics solutions. By combining AuthenX’s optical module innovation with Kyocera’s PCIe® protocol processing and link training technologies, the partnership has produced a pluggable optoelectronic module ready for deployment in the most demanding AI and HPC environments.
Paul Wu, Chairman and General Manager of AuthenX, emphasized: “Our collaboration with Kyocera leverages the strengths of both companies—AuthenX’s leading-edge optical design and Kyocera’s experience in high-speed PCIe® protocol handling—to bring the next generation of high-performance, energy-efficient data center interconnects to market. Together, we aim to redefine connectivity for AI and HPC workloads.”
Future Outlook and Product Expansion
Kyocera plans to continue expanding its optoelectronic module portfolio beyond OSFP-XD and onboard modules, exploring new form factors such as Optical CDFP, primarily for 400G generation applications. These efforts align with Kyocera’s vision to support large-scale computing infrastructures well into the future, providing energy-efficient, high-speed interconnect solutions tailored to diverse system configurations.
The company’s ongoing research and development, supported by projects like JPNP21029 subsidized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), ensures that Kyocera remains at the forefront of optical interconnect technology, enabling AI, HPC, and cloud data centers to operate with maximum efficiency and reliability.
Exhibition at OFC 2026
OFC 2026 will provide an ideal platform for Kyocera to demonstrate the capabilities of OSFP-XD. As one of the world’s largest international exhibitions focused on optical communications, OFC attracts telecommunications carriers, data center operators, and research institutions worldwide. Visitors to the AuthenX booth (#5204) will be able to see live demonstrations of the OSFP-XD module, experience its high-speed, low-latency optical transmission, and understand how its pluggable format supports flexible and energy-efficient data center operations.
The launch of the OSFP-XD pluggable optoelectronic module marks a significant milestone for Kyocera and the broader optical interconnect industry. By supporting PCIe® 6.0, enabling high-speed, long-distance optical communication, and reducing energy consumption, OSFP-XD provides data center operators with a flexible, scalable solution to meet the ever-growing demands of AI, HPC, and cloud computing.
Through strategic partnerships like the one with AuthenX and ongoing innovation within the OPTINITY® series, Kyocera is helping shape the future of data center architecture, ensuring that operators can achieve maximum performance, power efficiency, and maintainability in next-generation computing environments.
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