Credo Technology Group Launches 1.6T Optical Cable Targeting AI Market

Credo Technology Group has introduced its 1.6T ZeroFlap Active Light Cable at the OCP Global Summit in San Jose, California, aiming to address the connectivity challenges faced by AI accelerators. This innovative cable is engineered to facilitate communication among thousands of AI devices without interruptions.

The Active Light Cable (ALC) utilizes dense arrays of micro-emitters and photodetectors connected by lightweight fiber bundles, transmitting data as light rather than electricity. This design allows for runs of up to 50 meters, making it suitable for AI scale-out and front-end networks. The ALC consumes only 12 watts per end, approximately 30% less power than comparable copper active electrical cables (AECs), and is ten times lighter than traditional alternatives.

Credo aims for a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 100 million hours, which is a target rather than a confirmed result. The cable features channel redundancy and ZeroFlap link monitoring to ensure seamless failover, preventing disruptions in data flow.

Additionally, Credo announced the Short-Reach Micro-Emitter Optics workstream under the Open Compute Project to standardize this new technology, with early support from industry players like SENKO and AFL. The company reported a record revenue of $479 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, marking a 115% year-over-year increase, and expects to exceed $600 million in optical revenue by the fiscal year's end.

With shipping set to begin in 2027, Credo's launch represents a strategic expansion into the optical market, addressing the limitations of copper AECs and positioning itself as a leader in the evolving AI infrastructure landscape.