A first commercial order for micro light-emitting diode (LED)-based optical interconnect technology is attracting attention, with interest focused on whether it will begin to see wider deployment in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. According to industry sources on November 5, US startup Palomino recently received its first purchase order (PO) from a global strategic hyperscaler customer to supply gallium nitride (GaN) microLED-based optical interconnect chips for AI infrastructure. The PO also includes a statement of work (SOW) to improve nanomaterials and microLED designs to increase optical output and fiber coupling efficiency. The company says it has comprehensively redesigned microLED technology, previously discussed mainly for displays, for high-speed data transmission in AI data centers and demonstrated its commercialization potential. Although Palomino did not identify the customer, the order is attracting attention as the first publicly announced commercial order by a hyperscaler for AI data center applications of microLED-based optical interconnect technology, which had been understood to remain in development. Palomino co-founder and CEO Jeffrey Shealy said, “This order is an important milestone recognizing major AI infrastructure customers' need for microLED optical interconnects that maximize bandwidth, reliability and energy efficiency.” Major technology companies and the semiconductor industry have recently been focusing on optical interconnects as an alternative to conventional copper wiring to reduce AI data center heat and power consumption. MicroLEDs in particular have been considered a next-generation optical technology because they can operate stably at low energy consumption even at high temperatures compared with existing laser-based technologies and can achieve bandwidth densities on the order of terabits per millimeter. Companies previously considered leaders in microLED optical interconnect technology include Avicena, a silicon photonics startup backed by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, and Microsoft, which is working with MediaTek and others to develop MOSAIC, a microLED-based optical cable project intended to substantially reduce data center power consumption. An industry representative said, “MicroLEDs have recently attracted more interest in optical interconnects than in the display market because of the AI data center boom. Some companies in South Korea are interested, but development is still at an early stage, so it will take time for them to become competitive.”
Original Korean article: ETNews
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
