They're just optical switches
They're components you can buy, they've been on sale for a decade or more. They're like small blocks that you connect fibers to that you switch using a voltage (think "optical relays"). Its likely that the 2022 version is rather more sophisticated -- and dense -- than the 2006 version.
There are situations where physical connectivity rather than logical connectivity is useful, especially if you need to isolate circuits or you're working with optical data and you don't need to switch circuits packet by packet.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
