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28 Nov 2024
Canadian developer of photonic integrated circuits explores contract manufacturing options in Malaysia.
POET Technologies, the Canadian developer of integrated photonics for use in data center links, says it will take full control of Super Photonics Xiamen (SPX), the joint-venture company it had previously set up with Chinese partner Quanzhou Sanan Optical Communication Technology (SAIC).
A memorandum of understanding signed by the firms will see SAIC’s 24.8 per cent stake in SPX transfer to POET, along with all the production equipment previously leased by SAIC to SPX.
“With control of SPX, POET now has the flexibility to implement its “China Plus One” strategy to locate its wafer-scale assembly operations outside of China,” announced POET, adding that it was currently negotiating with several contract manufacturers in Malaysia.
Optical interposer
The intention is for Malaysia to become the focal point for POET’s wafer-scale assembly of optical engines, with the company expecting to sign an agreement within days and to begin operations by the end of the year.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of POET, SPX will continue to assemble optical engines for sale in China under the parent company’s name, with the deal set for completion by the end of November.
POET’s approach is based around its “optical interposer” technology, which employs novel waveguide technology to allow the integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single multi-chip module.
According to the company its novel wafer-level manufacturing techniques and packaging methods eliminate some costly components and manufacturing methods employed routinely in photonics solutions - most significantly by eliminating the need for active alignment of the laser to the waveguide - with potential applications in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and consumer products.
POET CEO Suresh Venkatesan said in a company release: “The addition of wafer-scale equipment to our assembly and test operations will significantly expand our production capacity to cover the projected needs of our customers for 800 G optical engines being sold to AI networks through 2026.
“We can now project an assembly and test capacity exceeding one million optical engines per year, all dedicated to the 800 G and higher speed transceivers required for AI clusters.”
Mitsubishi development deal
Shortly before the latest announcement POET, which has locations in Toronto, the US, and Singapore, had reported a net loss of $12.7 million on negligible sales revenues for the three months ending September 30.
That loss figure was up from $5.1 million a year ago, and partly the result of a $6.2 million adjustment relating to warrants issued in a foreign currency.
While sales revenues were scarce, the company was able to raise $25 million in equity capital during the latest quarter, while new customer Mentech Technology placed purchase orders for POET’s transmit and receive optical engines to be used in the development of an 800 G pluggable transceiver.
POET has also entered into a collaboration with Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric to co-develop integrated optical engine chipsets for next-generation 3.2 T pluggable transceivers, described as a highly sought-after product for optical connectivity in AI networking.
“POET and Mitsubishi Electric will jointly support product demonstrations with major customers,” announced the company.
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