Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) is a technology and design approach where optical components, such as lasers and photodetectors, are integrated alongside electrical components, like Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), within the same package. As data demands grow, these systems face limitations such as bandwidth constraints, latency issues, and space limitations. CPO optical modules put optical and electronic parts together. This helps data move faster and saves power. They make the signal path much shorter, from centimeters to millimeters. These pressures are driving renewed momentum behind co-packaged optics (CPO). It refers to the co-packaging scheme in which the switching chip and optical engine are assembled within the same integrated socket. However, it's worth noting that Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Arista and a long-standing visionary in data centre. CPO, or "Co-Packaged Optics," is an advanced opto-electronic co-packaging technology.
[PDF Version]