Silicon photonics die market to grow led by smartwatches

Silicon photonics market was worth US$87 million in 2020 but will grow to be worth US$1.1 billion by 2026, according to market research firm Yole Development.

The market will grow on average 49% per year during that time, the firm said.

Data center will account for the most in the global silicon photonics market. Silicon photonics die for data center transceiver was worth US$84 million in 2020 and will grow to be worth US$454 million in 2026, which equals to a 26% growth on average per year.

Intel dominates the silicon photonics die market for data centers. The company controlled a 53% market share last year. Since 2016, Intel has launched over 3 million silicon photonics transceivers.

The fastest growing area will be however, consumer health application. 

Consumer health accounted for only US$35,000 last year but will grow 81% per year on average until 2026 when it will be worth US$478 million, Yole Development said.

Apple’s smartwatch was the most noticeable out of the products with silicon photonics die applied. Cupertion was working with US’ Rockley Photonics on the technology since 2017, Yole noted.

Apple Watch 6, which launched last year, had four photo diode and four LED cluster used to measure oxygen saturation in the blood.

Yole Development predicts that the adoption rate of silicon photonics in the smartwatch market will be 10% in 2025 but will grow to 20% in 2035.

More companies are likely to join the silicon photonics ecosystem in the coming years from foundries such as GlobalFoundries and TSMC to companies such as Intel, IBM and Oracle that are researching the technology, the research firm said.