半导体行业观察·2025-12-05 01:46Core Viewpoint - CPO (Co-Packaged Optics) technology is set to revolutionize the external bandwidth of AI data centers, significantly enhancing data transmission speeds and reducing power consumption, marking a shift in computational infrastructure [1][3]. Industry Trends - The silicon photonics industry is on the brink of explosive growth, with over 150 companies forming a diverse ecosystem from upstream SOI/Epi-wafer to downstream cloud computing and AI factories [1][3]. - The competition among foundries is intensifying, with significant investments in silicon photonics capacity and technology, as companies race to establish themselves in the CPO market [3][4]. Foundry Dynamics - Foundries are crucial in transitioning silicon photonics from design to large-scale production, focusing on integrated manufacturing capabilities that combine photonic and electronic components [4][5]. - Samsung is aggressively investing in silicon photonics to challenge TSMC's dominance, positioning CPO technology as a key competitive advantage in the advanced packaging market [5][6]. Strategic Acquisitions - GlobalFoundries' acquisition of Advanced Micro Foundry (AMF) aims to solidify its leadership in silicon photonics, enhancing its manufacturing capabilities and supply chain reliability [7]. - Tower Semiconductor is expanding its production capacity significantly, driven by the surging demand for silicon photonics, with a focus on providing comprehensive delivery packages [8]. Design Services and Integration - Companies like Broadcom are transforming silicon photonics into platform businesses, integrating optical engines directly into their networking solutions to facilitate scalable deployment [12][13]. - Marvell's acquisition of Celestial AI is a strategic move to enhance its optical interconnect capabilities, aiming to provide a comprehensive connectivity platform for AI infrastructure [17][19]. XPU Manufacturers' Role - XPU manufacturers, particularly NVIDIA, are pivotal in driving the commercialization of CPO technology, with NVIDIA's CPO solutions expected to generate significant revenue by 2026 [21][22]. - AMD is also positioning itself in the silicon photonics space through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, focusing on AI interconnect needs [23]. Intel's Foundation - Intel has established itself as a foundational player in the silicon photonics ecosystem, having commercialized the technology early and built a robust supply chain [24][25]. Conclusion - The competition in the "optical chip" space is not just about manufacturing capacity but also about reshaping the interconnect architecture for AI data centers, with CPO technology expected to be fully commercialized by 2027 [26].