半导体行业观察·2025-09-03 01:17Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the critical role of silicon photonics in meeting the increasing demands of data centers, particularly for artificial intelligence and machine learning applications, highlighting the advancements in high-speed communication and the growing bandwidth requirements driving the development of silicon photonics and lithium niobate technologies [2][5]. Group 1: Industry Landscape - The silicon photonics industry is characterized by a diverse range of participants, including major vertically integrated players like Innolight, Cisco, and Marvell, as well as startups, research institutions, foundries, and equipment suppliers, all contributing to significant growth and diversification [5]. - China is making notable progress in the silicon photonics sector, aiming to establish global leadership by narrowing the gap with Western companies through government support and a focus on domestic innovation [5]. Group 2: Technological Advancements - Higher single-channel rates can achieve Ethernet speeds of 3.2 Tbps or more, while also reducing power consumption and the number of lasers required, leading to lower capital expenditures and simplified supply chains [8]. - The demand for scalable, energy-efficient optical solutions in data centers and networks is intensifying competition among SOI, LNOI, and InP platforms, each with unique advantages and challenges shaping the future of optical communication [8]. Group 3: Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) Development - The explosive growth of artificial intelligence, particularly large language models, is driving the adoption of co-packaged optical modules (CPO), which are essential for high bandwidth, low latency, and energy-efficient connections in large-scale data centers [12][20]. - NVIDIA's introduction of Spectrum-X and Quantum-X silicon photonic switches at GTC 2025 marks a significant milestone for CPO in AI infrastructure, with the CPO market projected to grow from $46 million in 2024 to $8.1 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 137% [13][20]. Group 4: Supply Chain Dynamics - The CPO supply chain encompasses semiconductor foundries, photonics manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and fiber experts, with key players like Nvidia, TSMC, and Broadcom driving demand in response to AI workloads [16][20]. - The supply chain includes materials such as silicon wafers, SOI, indium phosphide, and glass, supporting the integration of ASICs and photonic circuits for both horizontal and vertical scaling networks [17].