According to a renowned industry consulting firm LightCounting, 2026 will mark the pivotal "Inaugural Year" for Silicon Photonics (SiPho). As the most transformative optical technology of our time, SiPho is fueling an explosion in optical transceiver sales and the rapid evolution of Co-Packaged Optics (CPO). By 2026, it is projected that over 50% of all optical transceiver sales will be driven by SiPho-based modules—a staggering leap from just 10% in 2018.

Beyond AI and CPO, the horizon for SiPho is expanding into optical sensing. Emerging technologies like LiDAR will not only be powered by AI but will serve as the backbone for the next generation of intelligent applications.

https://www.lightcounting.com/newsletter/en/november-2025-the-year-of-silicon-photonics-2026-436