Michael Hurlston, CEO of optical networking leader Lumentum, discusses the role of laser optical interconnects in satellite constellations like SpaceX Starlink.
“If you can put a laser in the ocean and transmit across the Pacific, you can certainly put lasers in space and create this reality of an internet in space, right? It's going to be necessary.”
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More from Michael Hurlston
AssertionNot checkable as stated
Hurlston: Fiber optics demand is creating an industry manufacturing bottleneck
“So there's a bottleneck that's developing. I think you talked about it with Tony. And as these fiber optics becomes more and more prevalent in data center, it's creating an ever tighter noose around the industry because there's only so much we can do so quickl…”
Michael HurlstonJul 29, 2026▶ 7:25Lumentum CEO: How Lasers Are Transforming AI Data Centers · Sourcery with Molly O'Shea
PredictionNot checkable as stated
Hurlston: Existing Data Centers Will Shift to Optics Regardless of Buildouts
“What's interesting about the optical industry is if there are no more data center build outs, if you don't see this crazy rate of construction that we've seen over the past three or four years, still you're going to have a shift within the existing properties …”
Michael HurlstonJul 29, 2026▶ 9:08Lumentum CEO: How Lasers Are Transforming AI Data Centers · Sourcery with Molly O'Shea
PredictionOpen · timeframe Jul 2027
Hurlston: Server Copper Wiring Will Move to Optical Within 12 Months
“That run in the back of the servers, and in the next 12 months, we'll see some of those copper wires move to optical.”
Michael HurlstonJul 29, 2026▶ 17:49Lumentum CEO: How Lasers Are Transforming AI Data Centers · Sourcery with Molly O'Shea
AssertionSupported
Hurlston: Chinese Optical Suppliers Have a Significant Presence in US Data Centers
“Between the U.S. Optical component suppliers and how much we supply into the Chinese data centers, very little. We don't supply very much gear into the Chinese data centers, whereas Chinese optical component suppliers, some of our competitors, have a pretty bi…”
Michael HurlstonJul 29, 2026▶ 19:33Lumentum CEO: How Lasers Are Transforming AI Data Centers · Sourcery with Molly O'Shea
AssertionSupported
Hurlston: Copper wiring can no longer support necessary data center signal distances
“Inside the data center, you have speeds are increasing, bandwidths are increasing, and copper can no longer carry these signals the distances they need to go.”
Michael HurlstonJul 29, 2026▶ 3:02Lumentum CEO: How Lasers Are Transforming AI Data Centers · Sourcery with Molly O'Shea
AssertionContradicted
Hurlston: Lumentum Tripled Top-Line Revenue in Five Quarters
“I've been with the company only a short period of time. I've been there about five quarters now. And in those five quarters, we've tripled our top line revenue.”
Michael HurlstonJul 29, 2026▶ 9:37Lumentum CEO: How Lasers Are Transforming AI Data Centers · Sourcery with Molly O'Shea
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