12.8 Tbps. One Pluggable. Eight MPO-16.
XPO MSA — The eXtra-dense Pluggable Optics. Liquid-cooled. Field-serviceable. And it connects to your fiber plant via MPO.
Informational Demo
XPO MSA
12.8 Tbps
MPO Front
Pluggable, Not Packaged.
XPO (eXtra-dense Pluggable Optics) is a multi-source agreement led by Arista Networks to define a next-generation optical transceiver form factor for AI-scale infrastructure. Unlike Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), which integrates the optical engine with the switch ASIC, XPO preserves the field-serviceable pluggable architecture that data center operators rely on — while scaling bandwidth density by 4× compared to current 1.6T OSFP modules.
Each XPO module delivers 12.8 Tbps via 64 lanes at 200 Gbps. The front panel carries eight MPO-16 connectors. The module is larger than OSFP — approximately 60.8 × 111.8 × 21.3 mm — to accommodate the internal photonics and a shared central cold plate that dissipates up to 400W via integrated liquid cooling.
Why the Fiber Layer Matters
8 Connectors. 128 Fibers.
A single XPO module presents eight MPO-16 connectors on the front panel — 128 fibers in a footprint roughly 2.7× wider than OSFP. The patch field behind a fully loaded switch becomes extremely dense. High-quality, low-loss MPO-16 trunk cables and fan-outs are essential to maintain link budgets across 64 lanes.
Hot Pluggable. Literally.
The integrated cold plate runs at up to 400W per module. The fiber assemblies live in a high-temperature corridor between the front panel and the switch cage. Cables and connectors must withstand sustained exposure to 70°C–85°C ambient without IL or RL degradation.
Swap the Module. Keep the Fiber.
XPO is designed for field replacement. Technicians will pull and insert these modules repeatedly during upgrades, failures, and wavelength reconfigurations. The MPO-16 interface must survive high cycle counts while maintaining consistent optical performance — factory-polished, pre-tested assemblies are not optional.