Top Silicon Photonics Companies

The global Silicon photonics market is expected to be boosted by rising demand for cloud computing and expansion of hyperscale data centers. Silicon photonics enables high-speed optical data transmission with lower energy consumption. Hyperscale data centers adopt photonic solutions to support massive traffic volumes. As hyperscale operators prioritize performance and energy efficiency, adoption of photonic chips accelerates, making data center infrastructure a major growth engine.

Industry Overview

According to SkyQuest Technology “Silicon Photonics Market By Component (Lasers, Modulators), By Product (Transceivers (Data Rates (Less than 10 Gbps, up to 100 Gbps)), Variable Optical Attenuators, Switches, Cables, Sensors, Others), By Region - Industry Forecast 2025-2032,” Global Silicon photonics market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 28.3% by 2032, as adoption of high performance computing and artificial intelligence rises. Silicon photonics leverages existing semiconductor fabrication infrastructure, enabling mass production and cost efficiency. Integration with CMOS processes allows compact chip designs that combine electronic and optical functions.

Top 10 Global Silicon Photonics Companies

1. Cisco Systems Inc.

Cisco Systems Inc., based in San Jose, California, is a leading provider of networking equipment and infrastructure. Cisco leverages silicon photonics to advance optical interconnects in its routing and switching portfolios, particularly for data centers, metro and long-haul networks. Silicon photonics helps Cisco reduce power and space requirements while improving signal integrity and reach essential for multi-Tbps performance.

2. IBM Corporation

IBM is a pioneer in computing and semiconductor research with a long history of innovations in materials and architectures. In silicon photonics, IBM conducts foundational research and development to integrate optical interconnects into future computing platforms. IBM explores ways to reduce latency and energy costs by embedding photonics directly within computing fabrics.

3. Intel Corporation

Intel Corporation is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with deep investments in silicon photonics technology to enhance data center and high-performance computing (HPC) interconnects. The company’s R&D and ecosystem partnerships aim to commercialize tightly integrated photonic solutions that boost performance. The company’s silicon photonics portfolio includes high-speed optical transceivers and integrated optical I/O chips.

4. Lumentum Holdings Inc.

Lumentum is a U.S.-based company specializing in optical and photonic products, including lasers, optical components, and silicon photonics technologies. he company’s deep photonics expertise supports ecosystem partners developing integrated solutions for 400 Gbps+ links and beyond. By pushing advances in photonic design and manufacturability, Lumentum plays an essential role in scaling silicon photonics from research to commercial deployments.

5. GlobalFoundries Inc.

GlobalFoundries, headquartered in Malta, New York, is a major semiconductor foundry offering specialized fabrication services, including silicon photonics process nodes. By partnering with design ecosystem vendors and IP providers, GlobalFoundries facilitates rapid prototyping and production of photonic devices, including modulators, detectors, and waveguide structures. Its manufacturing expertise helps address yield, performance, and cost challenges associated with silicon photonics.

6. STMicroelectronics N.V.

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with offerings that include integrated photonic solutions and optoelectronic components. ST’s silicon photonics-enabled products serve communication, industrial, and automotive segments, combining photonic sensors, modulators, and detectors with advanced CMOS integration. By embedding photonics into multi-domain chips (optical, sensing, power, control), ST helps extend the reach of optical solutions beyond traditional networking.

7. Rockley Photonics Holdings Limited

Rockley Photonics, headquartered in San Jose, California, focuses on high-performance silicon photonic modules and integrated photonic SOCs for data communications, AI data transport, and emerging applications such as medical and wearable sensing. The company’s proprietary photonic integration platform enables compact, low-power optical engines capable of Tbps-class data throughput with advanced signal processing. However, the company has filed for banruptcy in recent times and the future for it is uncertain.

8. Sicoya GmbH

Sicoya is a Germany-based silicon photonics developer focused on energy-efficient optical transceivers and photonic ICs for high-speed interconnects in data center and enterprise networks. By combining photonic building blocks with CMOS-compatible processes, Sicoya delivers integrated optical engines that reduce power per bit while scaling bandwidth. Its products target network segments where traditional optics struggle with performance or efficiency, including co-packaged optics and mid-range interconnect systems.

9. Ranovus

Ranovus is a Canadian company specializing in hybrid photonic ICs and optical engines designed for scalable data center and telecom interconnects. Its architecture integrates multiple photonic functionalities on a single die, enhancing performance and lowering cost for high-bandwidth links (hundreds of Gbps to Tbps). By combining advanced photonic design tools with scalable manufacturing strategies, Ranovus contributes to broader silicon photonics commercialization and integration into mainstream optical communication products.

10. Broadcom Inc.

Broadcom Inc. is a diversified semiconductor and infrastructure solutions company widely recognized for high-performance networking and connectivity products. Broadcom’s silicon photonics offerings include photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and optical sub-systems designed for cloud data centers, coherent optics for telecommunications, and high-speed enterprise links. These photonic solutions improve spectral efficiency and enable tightly integrated optical engines that reduce power consumption and footprint compared to discrete optics.

Other Leading Global Silicon Photonics Companies

• Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
• Fujitsu Limited
• TDK Corporation
• Sicoya GmbH
• STMicroelectronics N.V.
• Rockley Photonics Limited

Conclusion

The global Silicon photonics market is anticipated to expand at an impressive CAGR but is still constrained by certain factors such as high costs of development and lack of standardization. Beyond communications, silicon photonics is expanding into sensing, medical diagnostics, and LiDAR systems. This diversification is expected to present new business scope for market players in the long run.

Advancements in machine learning/AI for anomaly detection, behavior analytics, and predictive threat detection are also creating new opportunities for Silicon photonics companies. Growing awareness regarding data breaches and emphasis on enhancing security across multiple verticals ensures sustained demand for Silicon photonics solutions in the long run.