en.Wedoany.com Reported - IQE and Tower Semiconductor have announced a multi-year supply agreement for indium phosphide (InP) epitaxial wafers to support silicon photonics technology for AI-driven data center infrastructure. The agreement positions IQE as a strategic supplier for Tower's silicon photonics roadmap, focusing on optical connectivity solutions that meet the bandwidth demands of large-scale AI clusters.
Under the agreement, IQE will supply InP epitaxial wafers for multiple advanced silicon photonics platforms from Tower. The collaboration covers 200 Gbps per channel pluggable optical transceiver technology, the development of next-generation 400 Gbps per channel optical modulators, and optical circuit switching technology for future data center architectures. The contract includes Tower's minimum purchase commitments and IQE's corresponding supply commitments, providing a framework for long-term volume production.
The two companies have also resolved all outstanding intellectual property disputes through a separate independent agreement. As part of the settlement, Tower will grant IQE a worldwide, royalty-free license covering the porous silicon patents from previous litigation, thereby terminating all related legal actions.
IQE CEO Jutta Meier stated that the agreement strengthens IQE's position in the global tier-one hyperscale cloud and AI infrastructure market. Leveraging decades of InP epitaxial technology experience and proven large-scale manufacturing capabilities, IQE is ready to support next-generation optical connectivity applications, driving them from innovation to commercial deployment.
In silicon photonics, InP continues to play a critical role in high-performance optical functions such as lasers and modulators. The roadmap discussed between IQE and Tower aligns with the industry's transition from current 100 Gbps per channel architectures to 200 Gbps per channel and eventually 400 Gbps per channel optical engines, aimed at supporting next-generation AI clusters. The announcement further solidifies Tower Semiconductor's position in silicon photonics foundry services. As hyperscale cloud providers, optical module suppliers, and network equipment vendors seek alternatives in manufacturing models, Tower has expanded its silicon photonics portfolio. The resolution of the porous silicon patent dispute eliminates potential disruptions and establishes a broader technical cooperation between the two companies amid accelerating demand for optical connectivity, optical switching, and co-packaged photonics technologies.
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