Silicon Photonics In The Data Center: What A CMOS Exec Needs To Know

Silicon Photonics is revolutionizing data centers, with predictions that it will replace copper for all interconnects in about 5 years. The technology is expected to have a significant impact on data center operations, especially in terms of scale-out and scale-up connections. Pluggable optics have been dominant in scale-out connections, but the shift to optical interconnects for scale-up is on the horizon. The market for optical components, including silicon photonics, is projected to grow significantly, with forecasts reaching $25 billion by 2030. Major foundry players like GlobalFoundries and Tower Semiconductor are leading the way in silicon photonics manufacturing, with TSMC expected to become a key player in the field. The article also delves into the technical aspects of silicon photonics, including how light transfers data between chips and the various applications of the technology in data centers.