In this conversation, Judy Warner and Matt Burns dive into the real-world challenges engineers face as data rates push past 224 Gbps and AI strains data center infrastructure. They break down the copper vs. fiber tradeoffs, why optical solutions are becoming critical for longer distances, and how midboard optics offer better flexibility than front panel options. Matt also covers how PCIe and CXL are evolving to support AI workloads and why modular system designs are key to future-proofing networks. Whether you're designing high-speed interconnects or just trying to keep up with industry shifts, this episode unpacks the trends shaping the future of high-speed connectivity.

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Episode Links:

Samtec at OFC 

https://blog.samtec.com/post/samtec-at-ofc-2025/

Samtec Technical Library

https://blog.samtec.com/post/samtec-at-ofc-2025/

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