The rapid growth of AI technology has put unprecedented demands on networks and data centers. Silicon photonics and photonic integrated circuits offer the most advanced networking solution to this problem. AI "factories" are a new class of data centers with extreme scale, and networking infrastructure must be reinvented to keep pace. The US-based artificial intelligence (AI) computing multinational NVIDIA recently announced its plan to leverage silicon photonics and co-packaged optics (CPO) to connect millions of GPUs in these AI factories.
Silicon photonics and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) represent a transformative technology at the intersection of semiconductors and optics, enabling the manipulation of light on silicon chips. As data centers face unprecedented bandwidth demands driven by AI workloads, cloud computing, and video streaming, traditional copper interconnects reach fundamental physical limitations in terms of bandwidth, power consumption, and density. Silicon photonics offers a solution by leveraging light's inherent advantages: higher bandwidth, lower latency, reduced power consumption, and immunity to electromagnetic interference.
The technology is particularly crucial now due to the exponential growth in AI/ML applications, which require massive data movement between processors, memory, and storage. Silicon photonics enables the high-bandwidth, energy-efficient interconnects essential for scaling these systems. Additionally, the convergence of silicon photonics with mature CMOS manufacturing processes allows for cost-effective production at scale, making widespread adoption increasingly viable.
Looking toward the future, silicon photonics will play a pivotal role in multiple frontier technologies. In quantum computing, PICs provide the precise control of photonic qubits necessary for quantum information processing. For next-generation sensing, PIC-based LiDAR systems will enable autonomous vehicles with improved performance and reduced cost. In telecommunications, silicon photonics will support the backbone of 5G/6G networks and beyond, meeting ever-increasing bandwidth demands.
As the technology matures, we're witnessing a transition from discrete optical components to highly integrated photonic circuits that combine multiple functions on a single chip, similar to the evolution seen in the electronic semiconductor industry. This integration, coupled with advanced packaging technologies like co-packaged optics, will continue to drive improvements in performance, energy efficiency, and cost, cementing silicon photonics as a foundational technology for our increasingly connected, data-intensive world.
"The Global Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits Market 2023-2035" provides an in-depth analysis of the rapidly evolving silicon photonics and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) landscape, offering strategic insights into market dynamics, technology trends, and growth opportunities across multiple application segments from 2023 to 2035.
Key Report Features:
- Material Platform Analysis: Comparative assessment of silicon, silicon nitride, lithium niobate, indium phosphide, and emerging material technologies
- Application Segmentation: In-depth market forecasts for datacom, telecom, sensing, AI acceleration, and quantum computing applications
- Manufacturing and Packaging: Evaluation of wafer processing challenges, yield management, and advanced packaging technologies including co-packaged optics
- Competitive Landscape: Profiles of 186 companies across the entire value chain from materials suppliers to system integrators
- Technology Roadmaps: Forecasts for product development timelines, performance improvements, and market adoption rates
- Introduction to Silicon Photonics: Fundamental principles, comparative advantages over traditional technologies, and basic optical data transmission mechanisms
- Materials and Components Analysis: Comprehensive review of platform technologies including silicon-on-insulator (SOI), germanium photodetectors, silicon nitride waveguides, thin-film lithium niobate, and hybrid integration approaches
- Advanced Packaging Technologies: Detailed analysis of 2.5D and 3D integration technologies, through-silicon vias (TSVs), hybrid bonding, and co-packaged optics solutions
- Market Applications in Depth:
- Datacom: Data center architectures, transceiver evolution, co-packaged optics, and high-performance computing interconnects
- Telecommunications: 5G/6G infrastructure, optical networking, and long-haul/metro applications
- Sensing: LiDAR systems, chemical/biological sensing, and medical diagnostics
- AI/ML: Photonic processors, neural network accelerators, and programmable photonic systems
- Quantum: PIC-based quantum computing architectures, quantum communications, and single-photon sources
- Market Forecasts 2023-2035:
- Global market size and regional analysis
- Segmentation by application, material platform, and component type
- Pricing trends and volume projections for key product categories
- Detailed forecasts for emerging segments including AI transceivers and quantum PICs
- Supply Chain Analysis: Foundry landscape, fabless designers, integrated device manufacturers, and end-users
- Technology Trends: Laser integration techniques, modulator innovations, photodetector developments, and waveguide advancements
- Challenges and Future Directions: CMOS-foundry compatibility, power consumption issues, packaging optimization, and scalability solutions.
This report provides essential strategic intelligence for technology vendors, component manufacturers, system integrators, end-users, and investors to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving silicon photonics ecosystem. With detailed technical benchmarking, market forecasts, and competitive analysis, the report enables stakeholders to identify growth opportunities, anticipate technological disruptions, and develop informed strategies for this transformative market.
The report provides comprehensive profiles of 183 companies across the silicon photonics and photonic integrated circuits ecosystem, including Accelink Technologies, Aeva Technologies, Aeponyx, Advanced Fiber Resources, AIM Photonics, AIO Core, Alibaba Cloud, Amazon (AWS), ANSYS, Advanced Micro Foundry (AMF), Amkor Technology, AMO GmbH, Analog Photonics, Anello Photonics, Aryballe, A*STAR, ASE Holdings, Aurora Innovation, Axalume, AXT, Ayar Labs, Baidu, Bay Photonics, BE Epitaxy Semiconductor, Broadcom, Black Semiconductor, Broadex, ByteDance, Cadence, Camgraphic, CEA LETI, Celestial AI, Centera Photonics, Cambridge Industries Group (CIG), Ciena Corporation, CISCO Systems, CNIT, Coherent Corp., CompoundTek, Cornerstone, Crealights Technology, DustPhotonics, EFFECT Photonics, Eoptolink (Alpine Optoelectronics), Ephos, Epiphany, Fabrinet, Fast Photonics, Fiberhome, Fibertop China Shen Zhen Fibertop Technology, ficonTEC, FormFactor, Fujitsu, Genalyte, Gigalight, GlobalFoundries, HGGenuine, Hisense Broadband, HyperLight, HyperPhotonix, Icon Photonics, InnoLight Technology, Innosemi, IntelliEpi, Inphotec, Intel, Imec, IMECAS, iPronics, JABIL, JCET Group, JFS Laboratory, JSR Corporation, Juniper Networks, Ki3 Photonics, LandMark, Leoni AG, Ligentec, Lightelligence, Lightium, Lightmatter, Lightsynq Technologies, Lightwave Logic, Light Trace Photonics, Liobate Technologies, LioniX International, LPKF, Lumentum, Luceda, Luminous Computing, LuminWave Technology, Lumiphase AG, Luxshare Precision Industry, Luxtelligence SA, MACOM, Marvell, Molex, NanoLN, NanoWired, NEC Corporation, NewPhotonics, NGK Insulators, NLM Photonics, Nokia Corporation, Novel Si Integration Technology, NTT Corporation, Nvidia, O-Net, OpenLight Photonics, OriChip Optoelectronics Technology, Partow Technologies, PETRA, Phix, PHOTON IP, and many more. Each profile includes company background, technology focus, product offerings, manufacturing capabilities, partnerships, and market positioning to provide a complete view of the competitive landscape and ecosystem relationships.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- 1.1. Market Overview
- 1.2. Electronic and Photonic Integration Compared
- 1.3. Silicon Photonic Transceiver Evolution
- 1.4. Market Map
- 1.5. Global Market Trends in Silicon Photonics
- 1.6. Competing and Complementary Photonics Technologies
- 1.6.1. Metaphotonics
- 1.6.2. III-V Photonics
- 1.6.3. Lithium Niobate Photonics
- 1.6.4. Polymer Photonics
- 1.6.5. Plasmonic Photonics
- 1.7. Potential of photonic AI acceleration
- 1.8. Commercial deployment of silicon photonics
- 1.9. Manufacturing challenges
2. INTRODUCTION
- 2.1. What is Silicon Photonics?
- 2.1.1. Definition and Principles of Silicon Photonics
- 2.1.2. Comparison with traditional technologies
- 2.1.3. Silicon and Photonic Integrated Circuits
- 2.1.4. Optical IO, Coupling and Couplers
- 2.1.5. Emission and Photon Sources/Lasers
- 2.1.6. Detection and Photodetectors
- 2.1.7. Compound Semiconductor Lasers and Photodetectors (III-V)
- 2.1.8. Modulation, Modulators, and Mach-Zehnder Interferometers
- 2.1.8.1. New modulator technologies
- 2.1.9. Light Propagation and Waveguides
- 2.1.10. Optical Component Density
- 2.2. Advantages of Silicon Photonics
- 2.3. Applications of Silicon Photonics
- 2.4. Comparison with Other Photonic Integration Technologies
- 2.5. Evolution from Electronic to Photonic Integration
- 2.6. Silicon Photonics vs Traditional Electronics
- 2.7. Modern high-performance AI data centers
- 2.8. Core Technology Components
- 2.8.1. Optical IO, Coupling and Couplers
- 2.8.2. Emission and Photon Sources/Lasers
- 2.8.2.1. III-V Integration Challenges
- 2.8.2.2. Laser Integration Approaches
- 2.8.3. Detection and Photodetectors
- 2.8.4. Modulation Technologies
- 2.8.4.1. Mach-Zehnder Interferometers
- 2.8.4.2. Ring Modulators
- 2.8.5. Light Propagation and Waveguides
- 2.8.6. Optical Component Density
- 2.9. Basic Optical Data Transmission
- 2.10. Silicon Photonic Circuit Architecture
3. MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS
- 3.1. Silicon
- 3.1.1. Silicon as a Photonic Material
- 3.1.1.1. Optical Properties of Silicon
- 3.1.1.2. Fabrication Processes for Silicon Photonics
- 3.1.2. Silicon and Silicon-on-insulator (SOI)
- 3.1.2.1. SOI Manufacturing Process
- 3.1.2.2. SOI Performance Benchmarks
- 3.1.2.3. Key SOI Players
- 3.2. Germanium
- 3.2.1. Germanium Integration in Silicon Photonics
- 3.2.2. Germanium Photodetectors
- 3.2.3. Germanium-on-Silicon Modulators
- 3.3. Silicon Nitride
- 3.3.1. Silicon Nitride (SiN) in Photonics Integrated Circuits
- 3.3.2. Optical Properties and Fabrication of SiN
- 3.3.3. SiN Modulator Technologies
- 3.3.4. SiN Applications in Photonics Integrated Circuits
- 3.3.5. Advances in SiN Modulator Technologies
- 3.3.6. SiN-based Waveguides and Devices
- 3.3.7. SiN Performance Analysis
- 3.3.8. Applications of SiN in Photonics
- 3.3.9. SiN PIC Players
- 3.4. Thin Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN)
- 3.4.1. Overview
- 3.4.2. Lithium Niobate on Insulator (LNOI)
- 3.4.2.1. Overview of LNOI Technology
- 3.4.2.2. Characteristics and Properties of LNOI
- 3.4.2.3. LNOI Fabrication Processes
- 3.4.2.4. LNOI-based Modulator and Switch Technologies
- 3.4.2.5. Trends Toward Higher Speed and Improved Power Efficiency
- 3.4.2.6. High-Speed LNOI Modulators
- 3.4.2.6.1. Energy-Efficient LNOI Devices
- 3.4.2.6.2. Emerging LNOI Device Technologies
- 3.5. Indium Phosphide
- 3.5.1. Indium Phosphide (InP) Integration
- 3.5.1.1. InP as a Direct Bandgap Semiconductor
- 3.5.1.2. InP-based Active Components
- 3.5.1.3. Hybrid Integration of InP with Silicon Photonics
- 3.5.2. InP PIC Players
- 3.6. Barium Titanite and Rare Earth metals
- 3.6.1. Barium Titanate (BTO) Modulators
- 3.7. Organic Polymer on Silicon
- 3.7.1. Polymer-based Modulators
- 3.8. Wafer Processing
- 3.8.1. Wafer Sizes by Platform
- 3.8.2. Processing Challenges
- 3.8.3. Yield Management
- 3.9. Hybrid and Heterogeneous Integration
- 3.9.1. Monolithic Integration
- 3.9.2. Hybrid Integration
- 3.9.3. Heterogeneous Integration
- 3.9.4. III-V-on-Silicon
- 3.9.5. Bonding and Die-Attachment Techniques
- 3.9.6. Monolithic versus Hybrid Integration
4. ADVANCED PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES
- 4.1. Evolution of Packaging Technologies
- 4.1.1. Traditional Packaging Approaches
- 4.1.2. Advanced Packaging Roadmap
- 4.1.3. Key Performance Metrics
- 4.2. 2.5D Integration Technologies
- 4.2.1. Silicon Interposer Technology
- 4.2.2. Glass Interposer Solutions
- 4.2.3. Organic Substrate Options
- 4.3. 3D Integration Approaches
- 4.3.1. Through-Silicon Via (TSV)
- 4.3.1.1. TSV Manufacturing Process
- 4.3.1.2. TSV Challenges and Solutions
- 4.3.2. Hybrid Bonding Technologies
- 4.3.2.1. Cu-Cu Bonding
- 4.3.2.2. Direct Bonding
- 4.4. Co-Packaged Optics (CPO)
- 4.4.1. CPO Architecture Overview
- 4.4.2. Benefits and Challenges
- 4.4.3. Integration Approaches
- 4.4.3.1. 2D Integration
- 4.4.3.2. 2.5D Integration
- 4.4.3.3. 3D Integration
- 4.4.4. Thermal Management
- 4.4.5. Optical Coupling Solutions
- 4.5. Optical Alignment
- 4.5.1. Active vs Passive Alignment
- 4.5.2. Coupling Efficiency
- 4.6. Manufacturing Challenges
5. MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS
- 5.1. Datacom Applications
- 5.1.1. Data Center Architecture Evolution
- 5.1.2. Transceivers
- 5.1.3. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
- 5.1.4. Pluggable optics
- 5.1.5. Linear drive and linear pluggable optics (LPO)
- 5.1.6. Interconnects
- 5.1.6.1. PIC-based on-device interconnects
- 5.1.6.2. Advanced Packaging and Co-Packaged Optics
- 5.1.6.2.1. Glass materials
- 5.1.6.2.2. Co-Packaged Optics
- 5.1.6.3. Photonic Engines and Accelerators
- 5.1.6.3.1. Photonic processing for AI
- 5.1.6.3.2. Convergence with software
- 5.1.6.3.3. Photonic field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)
- 5.1.6.4. Photonic Integrated Circuits for Quantum Computing
- 5.1.6.4.1. Photonic qubits
- 5.1.7. Optical Transceivers
- 5.1.7.1. Architecture and Operation
- 5.1.7.2. Market Players
- 5.1.7.3. Technology Roadmap
- 5.1.8. Co-Packaged Optics for Switches
- 5.1.8.1. CPO vs Pluggable Solutions
- 5.1.8.2. Power and Performance Benefits
- 5.1.8.3. Implementation Challenges
- 5.1.9. Data Center Networks
- 5.1.10. High-Performance Computing
- 5.1.10.1. On-Device Interconnects
- 5.1.10.2. Chip-to-Chip Communication
- 5.1.10.3. System Architecture Impact
- 5.1.11. Chip-to-Chip and Board-to-Board Interconnects
- 5.1.12. Ethernet Networking
- 5.2. Telecommunications
- 5.2.1. 5G/6G Infrastructure
- 5.2.2. Bandwidth Requirements
- 5.2.3. Long-Haul and Metro Networks
- 5.2.4. 5G and Fiber-to-the-X (FTTx) Applications
- 5.2.5. Optical Transceivers and Transponders
- 5.3. Sensing Applications
- 5.3.1. Lidar and Automotive Sensing
- 5.3.1.1. Photonic Integrated Circuit-based LiDAR
- 5.3.2. Chemical and Biological Sensing
- 5.3.3. Optical Coherence Tomography
- 5.4. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- 5.4.1. AI Data Traffic Requirements
- 5.4.2. Silicon Photonics for AI Accelerators
- 5.4.3. Photonic Processors
- 5.4.4. Photonic Processing for AI
- 5.4.5. Programmable Photonics
- 5.4.6. Neural Network Applications
- 5.4.7. Future AI Architecture Requirements
- 5.5. Quantum Computing and Communication
- 5.5.1. Quantum Photonic Requirements
- 5.5.2. Integration Challenges
- 5.5.3. Photonic Platform Quantum Computing
- 5.5.4. PICs for Quantum systems
- 5.5.5. Operational cycle of photonic quantum computers
- 5.5.6. Market Players and Development
- 5.5.7. AI Neuromorphic Computing
- 5.6. Biophotonics and Medical Diagnostics
6. GLOBAL MARKET SIZE
- 6.1. Global Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits Market Overview
- 6.1.1. Market Size and Growth Trends
- 6.1.2. Market Segmentation by Application
- 6.1.3. Modules & PICs (Dies) Market Forecast 2023-2035
- 6.1.4. SOI Wafers Market Forecast 2023-2035
- 6.1.5. LPO & New Modulator Materials Market Forecast 2023-2035
- 6.2. Datacom Applications
- 6.2.1. Market Forecast 2023-2035
- 6.2.1.1. Modules Market Forecast 2023-2035
- 6.2.1.2. PICs (Dies) Market Forecast 2023-2035
- 6.2.1.3. PIC Transceivers for AI
- 6.2.1.4. PIC Transceiver Pricing
- 6.2.1.5. PIC Datacom Transceiver Market Forecast
- 6.2.2. Key Drivers and Restraints
- 6.3. Telecom Applications
- 6.3.1. Market Forecast 2023-2035
- 6.3.1.1. PIC-based Transceivers for 5G
- 6.3.2. Key Drivers and Restraints
- 6.4. Sensing Applications
- 6.4.1. Market Forecast 2023-2035
- 6.4.2. PIC-based Sensor Market Forecast
- 6.4.3. PIC-based LiDAR Market Forecast, 2023-2035
- 6.4.4. Key Drivers and Restraints
- 6.5. Photonic Integrated Circuit Market, by Material
7. SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSIS
- 7.1. Foundries and Wafer Suppliers
- 7.1.1. CMOS Foundries
- 7.1.2. Specialty Photonics Foundries
- 7.2. Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs)
- 7.2.1. Fabless Companies
- 7.2.2. Fully Integrated Photonics Companies
- 7.3. Foundries and Wafer Suppliers
- 7.4. Packaging and Testing
- 7.4.1. Chip-Scale Packaging
- 7.4.2. Module-Level Packaging
- 7.4.3. Testing and Characterization
- 7.5. System Integrators and End-Users
8. TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
- 8.1. Laser Integration Techniques
- 8.1.1. Direct Epitaxial Growth
- 8.1.2. Flip-Chip Bonding
- 8.1.3. Hybrid Integration
- 8.1.4. Advances and Challenges
- 8.2. Modulator Technologies
- 8.2.1. Silicon Modulators
- 8.2.2. Germanium Modulators
- 8.2.3. Lithium Niobate Modulators
- 8.2.4. Polymer Modulators
- 8.3. Photodetector Technologies
- 8.3.1. Silicon Photodetectors
- 8.3.2. Germanium Photodetectors
- 8.3.3. III-V Photodetectors
- 8.4. Waveguide and Coupling Innovations
- 8.4.1. Silicon Waveguides
- 8.4.2. Silicon Nitride Waveguides
- 8.4.3. Coupling Techniques
- 8.5. Packaging and Integration Advancements
- 8.5.1. Chip-Scale Packaging
- 8.5.2. Wafer-Scale Integration
- 8.5.3. 3D Integration and Interposer Technologies
9. CHALLENGES AND FUTURE TRENDS
- 9.1. CMOS-Foundry-Compatible Devices and Integration
- 9.1.1. Scaling and Miniaturization
- 9.1.2. Process Complexity and Yield Improvement
- 9.2. Power Consumption and Thermal Management
- 9.2.1. Energy-Efficient Photonic Devices
- 9.2.2. Thermal Optimization Techniques
- 9.3. Packaging and Testing
- 9.3.1. Advanced Packaging Solutions
- 9.3.2. Automated Testing and Characterization
- 9.4. Scalability and Cost-Effectiveness
- 9.4.1. Wafer-Scale Integration
- 9.4.2. Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT)
- 9.5. Emerging Materials and Hybrid Integration
- 9.5.1. Novel Semiconductor Materials
- 9.5.2. Heterogeneous Integration Approaches
10. COMPANY PROFILES (183 company profiles)
11. APPENDICES
- 11.1. Glossary of Terms
- 11.2. List of Abbreviations
- 11.3. Research Methodology
12. REFERENCES