POET and QCi partner on 400G/Lane photonic engine for AI networks
POET Technologies and Quantum Computing Inc. (QCi) have announced a collaboration to develop 400G/Lane thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) modulator-based 3.2Tbps optical engines for next-generation AI and data centre networks.
QCi will integrate its TFLN modulators with POET’s Optical Interposer™ platform to deliver ultra-high-speed, energy-efficient data transfer solutions. The project, funded by POET and set for completion in the second half of 2026, aims to double the speed of today’s fastest networking devices.
Dr Yong Meng Sua, CTO at QCi, said the partnership combines POET’s integration platform with QCi’s photonics expertise to meet the global demand for more computing power. POET CEO Dr Suresh Venkatesan called the development “a radical step forward” in optical connectivity for AI infrastructure.
TFLN’s scalability and efficiency make it ideal for chip-level integration, and QCi is among the few companies capable of manufacturing it at wafer scale. With the global market for 3.2T optical engines expected to reach nearly USD $12 billion by 2030, the collaboration positions both companies at the forefront of high-speed photonics innovation.
