1.6T linear pluggable optics are the headline of a new announcement from Linktel Technologies, a maker of optical transceivers. According to a press release dated October 18, 2026, the company showed its 1.6T linear pluggable optics (LPO) solutions at the 2026 OCP Global Summit, saying they draw as little as 10W. This article is based on that release, which is the company’s own account.
Why 1.6T linear pluggable optics matter for AI networks
Linktel says AI data centres face scaling pressure, with demand for higher bandwidth density within tighter thermal and power budgets. The company’s pitch is that its 1.6T LPO solutions, highlighted by the 1.6T LPO 2DR4, reduce power and cooling loads, and with scale-out AI fabrics in mind.
For other infrastructure stories, see our reports on co-packaged optics trays from Lightmatter and Flex and AI data centre power monitoring with a nanosecond ADC.
What Linktel says its 1.6T LPO delivers
The release lists four claims. First, power consumption as low as 10W, which the company says drastically reduces cooling and power loads. Second, a linear optics architecture that cuts signal processing delay. Third, supply-chain resilience, because eliminating the optical DSP removes component choke points. Fourth, interoperability: Linktel says the module showed multi-switch platform interoperability at the early September 2026 1.6T LPO-MSA Plugfest, which it calls a foundation for the 200G-per-wavelength ecosystem.
Linktel adds that live demonstrations of its 1.6T LPO, LRO and FRO modules drew crowds of data centre architects and partners, and that with volume production already in place it is ready to meet demand. It did not give production numbers.
Other optics Linktel showed at OCP 2026
The company also showed a 12.8T liquid-cooled XPO, with a live thermal demonstration for high-density AI nodes. As a founding member of the XPO MSA, it says it is scaling the XPO series with FRO, LRO and LPO variants. It displayed 6.4T and 7.2T NPO modules with the covers removed, and an engineering director gave a session on dispersion managed transceivers for AI fabrics, covering 800G over 20km and 1.6T over 10km options. Linktel says it is open to sharing its US-filed patents with ecosystem partners.
Open questions on 1.6T linear pluggable optics
Because this is a vendor release, the strongest wording is the company’s. Terms such as “breakthrough” and “unprecedented” are Linktel’s own. The release gives no latency figure, no price, no named customers and no independent test results. The 10W figure is described as “as low as,” and the release does not say under what conditions it was measured or whether it is typical in a full system.
It is also unclear whether “volume production” applies to every variant shown. Buyers would want independent power and interoperability data before drawing conclusions.
My view on 1.6T linear pluggable optics
As a writer, I think power is one of the most practical problems in AI networking, so removing a power-hungry part is an appealing idea. But a best-case number from a trade show release is only a starting point. I would want to see measured power in real deployments, how it compares with modules that keep the DSP, and what happens to signal quality. Until then, I read this as a credible direction, not a verdict.
FAQ: 1.6T linear pluggable optics
What are 1.6T linear pluggable optics?
According to Linktel, they are 1.6T optical modules with a linear optics architecture that eliminates the optical DSP, aimed at AI data centre networks.
How much power does Linktel’s 1.6T LPO use?
The company says the 1.6T LPO 2DR4 operates with power consumption as low as 10W. It does not say what conditions that figure applies to.
Is Linktel’s 1.6T LPO in production?
The release says volume production is already in place, but it gives no quantities, customers or dates, and no independent confirmation.