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Win Semiconductors expects threefold growth in GaAs IC drivers for 1.6T modules
Friday, March 27, 2026 at 04:47 AM
Win Semiconductors is forecasting a significant increase in demand for GaAs IC drivers utilized in 1.6T optical modules for 2026. The company currently produces 70mW and 100mW Continuous Wave Distributed Feedback (CW DFB) laser chips and is actively developing higher-power 200mW and 400mW variants to support next-generation data center interconnects.
Context
As of March 2026, Win Semiconductors, the world's largest GaAs foundry, expects a 2x-3x increase in demand for GaAs IC drivers used in 1.6T optical modules this year. This surge is driven by the rapid scaling of AI data center infrastructure and the transition to 200G-per-lane speeds, which significantly compresses the reach of copper interconnects and expands the total addressable market for optical solutions.
To capture this growth, the company is aggressively expanding its laser portfolio. While it currently ships 70mW and 100mW continuous wave (CW) DFB chips, it is actively developing higher-power 200mW and 400mW versions to meet the stringent power requirements of next-generation silicon photonics and co-packaged optics (CPO).
This development follows a strategic partnership with Sivers Semiconductors to scale high-volume laser production, positioning Win Semiconductors as a critical manufacturing partner for 1.6T transceivers. With Nvidia's 1.6T modules entering mass manufacturing in Q1 2026, Win Semiconductors is emerging as a vital sub-tier supplier alongside incumbents like Lumentum and Coherent to alleviate ongoing laser supply bottlenecks.
Sources (7)
POET Announces Design Win and Collaboration with Foxconn Interconnect Technology for High-speed AI Systems | POET TechnologiesWorld's largest GaAs foundry sees 2–3x surge from 1.6T optical boom2030 Data Center AI Chip Winners: The Trillion Dollar ClubSivers collaborating with WIN to scale high-volume DFB laser productionOptical Component Startup Tracker - Cignal AILumentum and the Laser Bottleneck - by Austin LyonsOptical Rivalries: Where One Tech Must Lose for the Other to Win | GenInnov
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