Coherent pluggable optics are revolutionizing how service providers scale transport networks for AI, cloud, and video. This white paper written by Simon Stanley, Analyst at Larger, Heavy Reading (now part of Omdia) analyzes findings from 82 global operators in a 2025 survey, exploring current 400G deployment, 800G timelines, router/switch ports, and usage across edge, metro, and long-haul networks. It highlights priorities like multi-vendor interoperability, performance, power efficiency, and operational challenges, offering actionable insights for future network optimization.