Samsung Unveils Silicon Photonics Roadmap: Mass Production by 2028

According to industry reports, Samsung Electronics has unveiled an ambitious silicon photonics roadmap at OFC 2026 in Los Angeles, announcing plans to begin mass production by 2028. The initiative underscores Samsung’s strategy to address data transmission bottlenecks in AI semiconductors and strengthen its competitive position against TSMC.

As AI workloads continue to expand rapidly, the physical limits of traditional copper-based interconnects are becoming increasingly apparent, positioning optical transmission as a critical inflection point for the semiconductor industry. In response, Samsung aims to complete the foundational design of its silicon photonics platform by the end of 2025. The technology integrates photonic components with advanced electronic control circuits, enabling highly integrated, single-chip solutions capable of efficient data transmission.

According to Samsung’s roadmap, silicon photonics chips will be deployed at the front end of data processing nodes by 2028, located alongside switch chips to improve bandwidth and reduce latency. By 2029, the company plans to introduce advanced packaging solutions that combine silicon photonics, GPUs, and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), with the goal of significantly enhancing AI computing performance.

To differentiate from competitors, Samsung is leveraging its vertically integrated semiconductor ecosystem. By combining silicon photonics, HBM, and advanced system-level packaging technologies, the company aims to deliver cost-efficient solutions with shorter production cycles. Analysts note that this integrated approach could simplify increasingly complex AI chip supply chains and attract leading global technology firms.

The urgency of adopting optical technologies is reinforced by surging demand for high-speed data processing in AI applications. Industry leaders, including Jensen Huang, have emphasized the importance of photonics in next-generation computing. At the same time, major chip designers are investing billions of dollars into optical technologies, highlighting the growing strategic importance of silicon photonics.

Despite its progress, Samsung is still considered to be several years behind TSMC in certain advanced manufacturing capabilities. Before achieving large-scale production and securing significant customer orders by 2028, the company must demonstrate the reliability and scalability of its silicon photonics solutions. As the global semiconductor industry transitions toward optical interconnects for faster data transfer, the commercialization of silicon photonics is expected to play a decisive role in shaping future leadership in the foundry market.