What happened
The 27th China International Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE) opened on September 9 at the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center, with booths of optical fiber, module, chip, and component makers crowded by attendees.
Industry insiders told Shanghai Securities News that global AI computing infrastructure expansion is driving faster growth in optical communications, with technologies like CPO, NPO, and OCS iterating faster than expected.
Exhibitors showcased technology roadmaps showing optical module speeds rising from 100G to 200G, 400G, and integrated rates from 1.6T to 3.2T, 6.4T, and 12.8T, with connectivity shifting from pluggable to NPO and CPO.
Why it matters
The event highlights how AI-driven demand is reshaping the optical communications supply chain, from specialized fiber like polarization-maintaining fiber to advanced PCBs and MLCCs, signaling sustained high growth.
As domestic chip and component makers gain traction amid localization efforts, the industry is poised for rapid technological and industrial upgrades, with potential ripple effects across computing infrastructure.
Key facts
At the expo, Huagong Tech's 3.2T CPO optical engine was demonstrated for the first time, based on a self-developed silicon photonics platform with TGV glass substrate 2.5D advanced packaging.
Optical module makers generally report order visibility extending to 2028, and Goldman Sachs raised its global optical module shipment forecasts for 2026-2028 to $68 billion, $131.4 billion, and $148.5 billion, respectively.
Fiber makers like YOFC, Hengtong, ZTT, and FiberHome highlighted polarization-maintaining fiber products, with expectations of demand surge by early next year as CPO/NPO mature.
What to watch next
Watch for the pace of CPO/NPO adoption and its impact on polarization-maintaining fiber demand, as well as the ramp-up of 1.6T and 3.2T optical modules.
Monitor how PCB and MLCC suppliers adapt to higher-layer, finer-line requirements, and whether material supply constraints ease to meet growing orders.
