Today’s data center switches depend on pluggable optics installed in the switch faceplate that are connected to switch serializer/deserializer (SerDes) ports using an electrical trace. But as data center switch bandwidth grows, connecting the SerDes to pluggable optics electrically will be more complex and require more power. With co-packaged optics, the optical port is placed near the switch within the same package, thus reducing power and enabling continued switch bandwidth scalability.