Independent photonics intelligence
The companies, technologies and capital shaping optical infrastructure, distilled into the signals that matter.
JCET increased its 2026 capital budget from RMB9.98B to RMB17.31B. Its Q3 revenue reached RMB11.43B, up 13.5% year on year. The company says its XDFOI platform can integrate photonic and electronic chips and co-package optical engines with switches and compute chips.
Source: JCET Group / PR NewswireRead briefingEditor's selection: A larger packaging budget and an explicit CPO capability put assembly capacity at the centre of the optical build-out.
What changed this week · Analysis
19–25 October 2026 · Photonicom briefing desk
JCET's larger capex budget and stated CPO integration capability make packaging a concrete capacity question. Read it alongside Lightmatter and Celestica's system launches: a switch design still needs repeatable assembly and qualification. This is our interpretation, not evidence of a supplier relationship between these companies.
Photon Bridge is funding a multi-foundry laser architecture while Modulight reports interest in its InP processes and capacity. Together they suggest buyers are exploring more supply options. Neither announcement establishes a newly qualified high-volume source.
Starman and Gemtek's New Jersey plan and TTM's proposed Ophir purchase address different markets, but both tie optical capability to a manufacturing footprint. The useful next evidence is execution: commissioning for the former, approvals and closing for the latter.
Briefing desk
Modulight reported Q3 revenue of €1.886M and orders of €3.5M. EBITDA was €1.003M, while EBIT remained negative at €0.393M. The company says major technology firms are discussing its InP processes, capacity and potential production partnerships; it did not announce signed capacity deals.
Source: Modulight / Inderes regulatory releaseRead briefingAmadeus APEX Technology Fund and 360 Capital co-led the round, with Innovation Industries, Faber and BOM increasing their investment. Photon Bridge plans first samples in 2027 and volume manufacturing from 2028 for laser sources delivering multiple wavelengths at up to 40 mW per wavelength per fiber across multiple InP foundries.
Source: Photon BridgeRead briefingThe partners plan to manufacture optical transceivers at a New Jersey facility where Starman expects to invest $150M and has approval for up to $37.5M in state tax credits. The project targets 250 jobs and combines Starman's photonics platform with Gemtek's automated manufacturing experience.
Source: Starman New Photonics / Gemtek / SECRead briefingTTM announced an all-cash agreement for the infrared and laser-optics business, with manufacturing in Israel and Romania. Closing is targeted for Q2 2027, subject to approvals. The deal excludes Ophir Instruments and the Ophir brand.
Source: TTM TechnologiesRead briefingBullhound Capital led the Series B with participation from AMD Ventures, Intel Capital, SBI Group, Hudson River Trading, British Business Bank and existing investors. The funding will support deployment of Salience's optical circuit switching technology, volume manufacturing and a larger U.S. presence after its 64-port all-optical switch demonstration.
Source: Salience LabsRead briefingLightmatter unveiled a 204.8 Tbps CPO switch tray developed with Flex as a production-validation system and a separate 102.4 Tbps four-accelerator XPU tray. Both use Passage CPO, Guide DR external lasers and vClick optics in OCP-aligned rack infrastructure.
Source: LightmatterRead briefingShowing 6 of 36 stories
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