A datacenter interconnect (DCI) is a connection between data centers and between the components within them.[1][2] The goal of a data center interconnect is to provide high bandwidth in order to maximize the utility of the data center.[2] Inter data center interconnects must also be able to transmit over long distances.[2][3] By using specialized infrastructure such as optical communication and direct connection between datacenters, DCI is able to provide much higher bandwidths than typical networks.[2] This is valuable to large cloud computing companies.[4] In 2017, IEEE standards were created to support 400 GbE per wavelength optical communications.[2][5] For short range connections within a data center, optical DCI can provide the advantage over traditional DCI of not needing cables.[6][7]
^Raza, Aadil; Iqbal, Saeed; Iqbal, Muhammad; Mirza, Jawad; Ghafoor, Salman; Atieh, Ahmad (March 2023). "400 Gbps/λ PAM-4 data transmission over FSO link by employing space division multiplexing for data center interconnects using LG modes enabled VCSELs". Optical and Quantum Electronics. 55 (3): 283. Bibcode:2023OQEle..55..283R. doi:10.1007/s11082-023-04572-8.
