Samsung Electronics is working with Broadcom to develop silicon photonics technology that converts data transmission between semiconductors from electrical signals to light, potentially increasing processing speeds more than tenfold.
The partnership, which began in early 2024, represents Samsung’s push to catch up with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in next-generation foundry capabilities. TSMC plans to commercialize silicon photonics for Nvidia’s AI accelerators by late 2025, while Samsung aims to bring its version to market with Broadcom within two years.
Industry sources indicate Samsung initiated the collaboration after Broadcom proposed joint development. While the Korean tech giant is also in talks with Nvidia and other companies, the Broadcom partnership is progressing fastest.
Samsung’s focus on silicon photonics comes as the company struggles with yield issues in its 3-nanometer process that have cost it market share to TSMC. The world’s largest contract chipmaker has secured major contracts from Apple, Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm, giving it advantages in both current production and future technologies.
“Beyond Gate-All-Around and Back-Side Power Delivery Network technologies, commercializing silicon photonics will be crucial for enhancing power efficiency and signal processing speeds to support AI applications,” an industry source said.
