Core Viewpoint - Optical Circuit Switches (OCS) differ from traditional switches by enabling direct optical switching without optical-electrical conversion, leading to reduced hardware costs and power consumption [1][2][5]. Group 1: Overview of Optical Switches - OCS operates by forwarding optical signals through wavelength division multiplexing and cross-connection, with optical-electrical conversion occurring at the server side [1][2]. - The main performance indicators of optical switches include switching speed, insertion loss, return loss, durability, and reliability [2][3]. Group 2: Current Development Status - OCS technology has gained attention due to Google's initiatives, with increasing applications in data centers [5][6]. - The rise of east-west traffic in large data centers has created bandwidth bottlenecks in traditional three-layer architectures, necessitating the adoption of the Spine-and-Leaf architecture for better scalability and reduced latency [6][8]. Group 3: Market Demand and Shipment Volume - Global shipments of optical switches reached 10,000 units in 2023, with an expected increase to approximately 13,000 units in 2024, driven by growing bandwidth demands in machine learning and cloud computing [16][19]. Group 4: R&D Directions - Despite the promising outlook for optical switch technology, challenges remain, including high initial capital expenditures and signal insertion loss [14][19]. - Continuous technological advancements are anticipated to enhance performance and reduce manufacturing and deployment costs, solidifying the foundation for large-scale applications [19].