Corning, AFL, Sumitomo, and TeraHop Form MSA to Standardize Multicore Fiber for Data Center Interconnects

Industry Collaboration Targets Multicore Fiber Standardization

America Fujikura Ltd. (AFL), Corning Incorporated, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., and TeraHop PTE. LTD. are collaborating in developing a new multi-source agreement (MSA) for multicore fiber (MCF) in data center environments.

The initiative, called the SDM4 MCF MSA, will outline the design, performance, and interoperability requirements for four-core multicore fiber used for passive optical connections in data center applications.

Addressing AI-Driven Demand for Higher Fiber Density

AI infrastructure continues to scale horizontally through the adding of more servers, racks, and GPUs. There has been increasing pressure to deliver higher bandwidth and connectivity using existing physical infrastructure.

Traditional single-core fiber is reaching practical limits in these environments, particularly for short-reach data center interconnect (DCI) and intra-campus networks. Multicore fiber is emerging as a potential solution by enabling multiple signals to be transmitted over a single optical fiber, increasing capacity without requiring additional cabling.

The SDM4 MCF MSA is intended to support this transition by providing a multi-vendor agreement establishing interoperability and technical requirements.

Defining Technical Requirements for Short-Reach Optical Networks

The collaboration will establish specifications covering:

• Operating procedures and deployment scope
• Technical requirements
• Interoperability guidelines

The initial focus is on short-reach interconnect applications operating in the O-band (1260–1360 nm), where low chromatic dispersion supports efficient data transmission.

Supporting Broader Industry Standardization Efforts

The MSA may also contribute to broader standardization efforts across major industry bodies, including the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

By establishing a common baseline for multicore fiber implementation, the group aims to accelerate technology development and support the evolution of global standards for multicore fiber solutions.

Specification Release

The MSA members plan to finalize and publicly release the initial SDM4 MCF specification within the coming months with support from major hyperscalers.

Following the initial release, additional members will be invited to join the MSA to further support multicore fiber growth and market development.