Marvell Technology MRVL stock gained 2% in trading on Monday as the semiconductor company showcased a new generation of 2-nanometer optical connectivity technologies at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) 2026 in Málaga, Spain.
The demonstrations come as AI data centres require faster connections between accelerators, processors and memory while keeping power consumption under control.
Marvell is using the event to highlight technologies aimed at increasing bandwidth density and reducing power per bit as AI infrastructure expands.
Marvell showcases 2nm optical connectivity
Marvell is demonstrating several optical technologies at ECOC, including what the company describes as the first 2nm 400G-per-lane optical PAM4 technology.
The company is also showcasing a 2nm 800G ZR/ZR+ pluggable featuring security capabilities, along with 2nm 1.6T ZR and coherent-lite technologies.
These products are designed to support higher bandwidth requirements while improving power efficiency.
Marvell said its advanced optical and silicon design uses leading-edge process nodes to improve performance, bandwidth density and power efficiency, which it sees as important for scaling AI infrastructure.
ECOC is Europe’s largest conference and exhibition focused on fibre-optic communications and optical networking.
The 2026 event features more than 340 exhibitors, along with sessions focused on AI infrastructure and demonstrations of optical technologies.
AI data centres drive demand for faster links
As AI chips become faster, data centres also need connectivity capable of moving large amounts of information between processors and memory at higher speeds.
AI data-centre architectures are moving from 1.6T connectivity towards 3.2T and beyond, increasing the need for optical links that can provide higher bandwidth without significantly increasing power consumption.
Marvell’s 400G-per-lane demonstration is designed to support this transition, while its 1.6T technologies target high-bandwidth connections within and between data-centre facilities.
The company is also demonstrating a 102.4-terabit-per-second co-packaged optics platform.
The technology integrates optical connectivity more closely with AI accelerators and switch silicon as traditional copper connections face distance and power limitations.
Marvell plans to feature 38 technology demonstrations at ECOC covering areas including 224G SerDes, 1.6T optics, coherent interconnects and optical memory fabrics.
Marvell faces broader optical competition
Marvell is not the only company showcasing AI connectivity technology at ECOC 2026. Lumentum, Qualcomm and Corning are demonstrating a high-density optical die-to-die interconnect for AI scale-up systems.
The system combines Qualcomm’s interface technology with Lumentum’s 1060 nm VCSEL optical platform and Corning’s multimode fibre.
The companies are targeting higher-bandwidth and lower-power links as AI systems increasingly approach the practical limits of electrical connectivity.
Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore maintained a Hold rating and a $246 price target. Piper Sandler initiated coverage with an Overweight rating and a $270 price target, while Bank of America maintained its Buy rating.
TipRanks data shows that Marvell has 22 Buy ratings and five Hold ratings among the 27 analyst ratings it has.
Marvell’s ECOC demonstrations therefore come as the company highlights optical connectivity as an important component of the infrastructure required to scale increasingly demanding AI systems.
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