{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"148186","rtpr_id":"nGNX54W0KD-20260921","ticker":"UTSI","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["UTSI","UT5"],"title":"UTStarcom Unveils Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) Solution for AI Data Centers at CIOE 2026","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-09-21T10:00:42.098Z","article_body":"HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UTStarcom Holdings Corp.\n(“UT” “UTStarcom” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: UTSI), a global\nnetworking solutions provider, made its inaugural appearance at the 27th China\nInternational Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE 2026), held September 9–11 at\nthe Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. Exhibiting from a dedicated\nbooth, UTStarcom highlighted its extensive optical networking expertise and\nunveiled concept prototypes of its next-generation Optical Circuit Switching\n(OCS) platform designed specifically for AI data center (AI DC) networking\ninfrastructure.\n\nAmong a wide variety of optoelectronic applications, CIOE 2026 served as a\nglobal stage for leading optoelectronic and optical communications innovators\naddressing the demanding computing requirements of the AI era. As AI clusters\ncontinue to scale, traditional copper interconnects and electrical packet\nswitches (EPS) increasingly encounter power, latency, and thermal constraints.\nThe OCS solutions presented by UTStarcom at the event focus directly on\ndismantling these barriers by introducing a dynamic, all-optical switching\nlayer into the fabrics of AI data centers.\n\nBy eliminating power-intensive Optical-Electrical-Optical (O-E-O) conversions\nand packet processing at the corresponding AI network layers, UTStarcom’s\nintegrated OCS solution addresses these scaling constraints across three\ndimensions:\n* Enhanced AI Cluster Performance: Operating alongside traditional EPS in\nhybrid AI data center architectures, OCS provides an automated, dynamically\nreconfigurable optical layer. By offloading high-volume AI traffic onto direct\nphotonic paths while enabling dynamic topology changes, resource pooling, and\noptical-layer redundancy, it eliminates buffer-related queuing delays and cuts\npacket loss and latency during large-scale model training and inference.\n* Lower CAPEX and OPEX: Reduces the number of required optical transceivers\nwhile lowering power consumption, cooling requirements, and rack footprint.\n* Protocol- and Bit-Rate-Agnostic Scalability: Provides protocol- and\nbit-rate-transparent fiber channels that can accommodate future increases in\noptical line rates without replacing the physical switching fabric.\nPublic Debut of UTStarcom’s OCS Concept Prototypes\n\nDuring the exposition, UTStarcom unveiled the concept prototypes of its OCS\nplatform alongside its in-house software management ecosystem. The platform\nremains in active development and comprises the following elements:\n* UOS64 (Silicon Photonics Platform): A 64x64-radix OCS concept prototype\nbased on Silicon Photonics (SiPho) technology. Engineered around chip-scale\nPhotonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), it is designed to provide fast optical\nswitching, high-density integration, and scalable optical path automation.\n* MOS64 (MEMS Platform): A 64x64-radix OCS concept prototype built on\nMicro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) micro-mirror core technology, designed\nto deliver low insertion loss, minimal channel crosstalk, and fast optical\npath switching.\n* OCS platform software & SOO Station OCS management platform: UTStarcom’s\nSONiC-based OCS platform software, paired with the Company’s SDN controller.\nThrough open Southbound and Northbound Interfaces (SBI/NBI), the software\nlayer allows upper-layer orchestrators to automate optical-path provisioning,\nimplement topology-on-demand and streamline optical fabric management.\nExecutive Commentary\n\nDr. Lingrong Lu, Chief Technology Officer of UTStarcom, commented: \"Addressing\nthe massive data workloads of next-generation AI clusters requires a\nfundamental rethink of networking strategies. By bringing both Silicon\nPhotonics and MEMS-based OCS prototypes to CIOE 2026, we demonstrated our\nvision for a transparent, highly automated optical layer. Exhibiting these\nconcept prototypes allowed us to gather vital technical feedback directly from\npotential customers and ecosystem partners, ensuring our ongoing R&D roadmap\naligns seamlessly with real-world AI deployment requirements.\"\n\nMr. Hua Li, Chief Executive Officer of UTStarcom, added: \"The rapid expansion\nof AI infrastructure represents a transformative growth opportunity for\noptical networking. CIOE 2026 confirmed strong industry interest in flexible,\nreliable OCS platforms, and the engagement at our booth validated our\nstrategic decision to prioritize AI DC solutions. UTStarcom remains fully\ncommitted to continuing investments into product development and working\nalongside global partners to bring a production-ready OCS portfolio to\nmarket.\"\n\nAbout UTStarcom Holdings Corp.\n\nUTStarcom provides innovative, reliable, and cost-effective networking\nsolutions worldwide. The Company’s high-performance product portfolio spans\nhigh-growth networking domains, including AI data center network\ninfrastructure, telecom mobile backhaul, metro aggregation, and broadband\naccess. UTStarcom is headquartered in Hangzhou, China, and supports operations\nand customers around the world. UTStarcom was founded in 1991 and listed on\nthe Nasdaq Stock Market since 2000 (symbol: UTSI). For more information about\nUTStarcom, please visit http://www.utstar.com.\n\nFor investor and media inquiries, please contact:\n\nUTStarcom Holdings Corp.\nTel: +86 571 8192 8888\nMs. Shelley Jiang, Investor Relations\nEmail: utsi-ir@utstar.com /  shelleyjiang@utstar.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/111a05ce-ae19-4b1f-9189-c5b1ad0b16b4)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX54W0KD-20260921","title":"UTStarcom Unveils Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) Solution for AI Data Centers at CIOE 2026","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"UTSI","created":"2026-09-21T10:00:42.098Z","tickers":["UTSI","UT5"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UTStarcom Holdings Corp.\n(“UT” “UTStarcom” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: UTSI), a global\nnetworking solutions provider, made its inaugural appearance at the 27th China\nInternational Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE 2026), held September 9–11 at\nthe Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. Exhibiting from a dedicated\nbooth, UTStarcom highlighted its extensive optical networking expertise and\nunveiled concept prototypes of its next-generation Optical Circuit Switching\n(OCS) platform designed specifically for AI data center (AI DC) networking\ninfrastructure.\n\nAmong a wide variety of optoelectronic applications, CIOE 2026 served as a\nglobal stage for leading optoelectronic and optical communications innovators\naddressing the demanding computing requirements of the AI era. As AI clusters\ncontinue to scale, traditional copper interconnects and electrical packet\nswitches (EPS) increasingly encounter power, latency, and thermal constraints.\nThe OCS solutions presented by UTStarcom at the event focus directly on\ndismantling these barriers by introducing a dynamic, all-optical switching\nlayer into the fabrics of AI data centers.\n\nBy eliminating power-intensive Optical-Electrical-Optical (O-E-O) conversions\nand packet processing at the corresponding AI network layers, UTStarcom’s\nintegrated OCS solution addresses these scaling constraints across three\ndimensions:\n* Enhanced AI Cluster Performance: Operating alongside traditional EPS in\nhybrid AI data center architectures, OCS provides an automated, dynamically\nreconfigurable optical layer. By offloading high-volume AI traffic onto direct\nphotonic paths while enabling dynamic topology changes, resource pooling, and\noptical-layer redundancy, it eliminates buffer-related queuing delays and cuts\npacket loss and latency during large-scale model training and inference.\n* Lower CAPEX and OPEX: Reduces the number of required optical transceivers\nwhile lowering power consumption, cooling requirements, and rack footprint.\n* Protocol- and Bit-Rate-Agnostic Scalability: Provides protocol- and\nbit-rate-transparent fiber channels that can accommodate future increases in\noptical line rates without replacing the physical switching fabric.\nPublic Debut of UTStarcom’s OCS Concept Prototypes\n\nDuring the exposition, UTStarcom unveiled the concept prototypes of its OCS\nplatform alongside its in-house software management ecosystem. The platform\nremains in active development and comprises the following elements:\n* UOS64 (Silicon Photonics Platform): A 64x64-radix OCS concept prototype\nbased on Silicon Photonics (SiPho) technology. Engineered around chip-scale\nPhotonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), it is designed to provide fast optical\nswitching, high-density integration, and scalable optical path automation.\n* MOS64 (MEMS Platform): A 64x64-radix OCS concept prototype built on\nMicro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) micro-mirror core technology, designed\nto deliver low insertion loss, minimal channel crosstalk, and fast optical\npath switching.\n* OCS platform software & SOO Station OCS management platform: UTStarcom’s\nSONiC-based OCS platform software, paired with the Company’s SDN controller.\nThrough open Southbound and Northbound Interfaces (SBI/NBI), the software\nlayer allows upper-layer orchestrators to automate optical-path provisioning,\nimplement topology-on-demand and streamline optical fabric management.\nExecutive Commentary\n\nDr. Lingrong Lu, Chief Technology Officer of UTStarcom, commented: \"Addressing\nthe massive data workloads of next-generation AI clusters requires a\nfundamental rethink of networking strategies. By bringing both Silicon\nPhotonics and MEMS-based OCS prototypes to CIOE 2026, we demonstrated our\nvision for a transparent, highly automated optical layer. Exhibiting these\nconcept prototypes allowed us to gather vital technical feedback directly from\npotential customers and ecosystem partners, ensuring our ongoing R&D roadmap\naligns seamlessly with real-world AI deployment requirements.\"\n\nMr. Hua Li, Chief Executive Officer of UTStarcom, added: \"The rapid expansion\nof AI infrastructure represents a transformative growth opportunity for\noptical networking. CIOE 2026 confirmed strong industry interest in flexible,\nreliable OCS platforms, and the engagement at our booth validated our\nstrategic decision to prioritize AI DC solutions. UTStarcom remains fully\ncommitted to continuing investments into product development and working\nalongside global partners to bring a production-ready OCS portfolio to\nmarket.\"\n\nAbout UTStarcom Holdings Corp.\n\nUTStarcom provides innovative, reliable, and cost-effective networking\nsolutions worldwide. The Company’s high-performance product portfolio spans\nhigh-growth networking domains, including AI data center network\ninfrastructure, telecom mobile backhaul, metro aggregation, and broadband\naccess. UTStarcom is headquartered in Hangzhou, China, and supports operations\nand customers around the world. UTStarcom was founded in 1991 and listed on\nthe Nasdaq Stock Market since 2000 (symbol: UTSI). For more information about\nUTStarcom, please visit http://www.utstar.com.\n\nFor investor and media inquiries, please contact:\n\nUTStarcom Holdings Corp.\nTel: +86 571 8192 8888\nMs. Shelley Jiang, Investor Relations\nEmail: utsi-ir@utstar.com /  shelleyjiang@utstar.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/111a05ce-ae19-4b1f-9189-c5b1ad0b16b4)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-21T10:00:42.149099556Z","server_sent_at_ms":1789984842149},"received_at":"2026-09-21T10:00:42.204Z","source_url":"https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/21/3365311/31115/en/utstarcom-unveils-optical-circuit-switching-ocs-solution-for-ai-data-centers-at-cioe-2026.html"},"analysis":{"id":"136971","press_release_id":"148186","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Communications Equipment","sector":"Information Technology"},"redFlags":["OCS platform is at concept-prototype stage with no commercial launch timeline or production-ready date disclosed","No orders, customer commitments, or financial figures provided; release is promotional trade-show coverage"],"eventType":"product_launch","narrative":"UTStarcom made its debut at CIOE 2026 in Shenzhen, unveiling concept prototypes of its next-generation Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) platform designed for AI data center networking.\n\nThe showcased lineup includes UOS64, a 64x64-radix silicon photonics switch prototype, and MOS64, a 64x64-radix MEMS-based design, paired with a SONiC-based management platform and SDN controller. The platform remains in active development, with no commercial launch date disclosed.\n\nExecutives framed the power, latency, and thermal limits of electrical switching in AI clusters as a transformative opportunity for optical networking, and said the company remains committed to continued investment until a production-ready OCS portfolio reaches market.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Small-cap UTSI leans into AI data center optics with prototype OCS platforms, but commercialization remains unproven."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"ocs_switch_radix":"64x64","prototype_platforms":["UOS64 (Silicon Photonics Platform)","MOS64 (MEMS Platform)"]}},"quotedText":"AI infrastructure represents a transformative growth opportunity","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Lingrong Lu","role":"Chief Technology Officer"},{"name":"Hua Li","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Shelley Jiang","role":"Investor Relations contact"}],"products":["Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) platform","UOS64 (Silicon Photonics Platform)","MOS64 (MEMS Platform)","SOO Station OCS management platform","SDN controller"],"companies":[{"name":"UTStarcom Holdings Corp.","ticker":"UTSI","relationship":"filer/issuer"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"Trade-show unveiling of concept prototypes for an optical switching platform still in active development, with no commercial launch date, orders, or revenue figures disclosed. Strategically relevant to UTStarcom's AI data center pivot but not near-term financially material."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"UTSI"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":25,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"prototype unveiling at trade show, no commercialization milestones","sectorWeight":"AI data center networking theme lifts retail interest","issuerAuthored":true,"householdBrandBoost":false}},"event_type":"product_launch","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"UTStarcom made its debut at CIOE 2026 in Shenzhen, unveiling concept prototypes of its next-generation Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) platform designed for AI data center networking.\n\nThe showcased lineup includes UOS64, a 64x64-radix silicon photonics switch prototype, and MOS64, a 64x64-radix MEMS-based design, paired with a SONiC-based management platform and SDN controller. The platform remains in active development, with no commercial launch date disclosed.\n\nExecutives framed the power, latency, and thermal limits of electrical switching in AI clusters as a transformative opportunity for optical networking, and said the company remains committed to continued investment until a production-ready OCS portfolio reaches market.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"ocs_switch_radix":"64x64","prototype_platforms":["UOS64 (Silicon Photonics Platform)","MOS64 (MEMS Platform)"]}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Lingrong Lu","role":"Chief Technology Officer"},{"name":"Hua Li","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Shelley Jiang","role":"Investor Relations contact"}],"products":["Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) platform","UOS64 (Silicon Photonics Platform)","MOS64 (MEMS Platform)","SOO Station OCS management platform","SDN controller"],"companies":[{"name":"UTStarcom Holdings Corp.","ticker":"UTSI","relationship":"filer/issuer"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flash","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-21T10:18:06.694Z","global_importance":15,"audience_relevance":25,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"prototype unveiling at trade show, no commercialization milestones","sectorWeight":"AI data center networking theme lifts retail interest","issuerAuthored":true,"householdBrandBoost":false}},"durationMs":137310,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flash"}}