OpenLight and Tower Semiconductor Expand PH18DA Photonics Ecosystem to Accelerate Photonic IC Development - Yahoo Finance

On August 11, 2026, OpenLight and Tower Semiconductor announced an expansion of the PH18DA photonic ecosystem to accelerate photonic integrated circuit (PIC) development. By integrating OpenLight's Pr... Read original →

The collaboration between OpenLight, Tower Semiconductor, and Cadence to expand the PH18DA ecosystem marks a pivotal shift from conceptual silicon photonics to commercial production. Integrating OpenLight's PDK into Cadence’s EDA tools streamlines design workflows, reducing development friction for photonic circuits. This move accelerates adoption in AI infrastructure and optical interconnects, especially in data center environments. From a geopolitical standpoint, the alliance strengthens the tech ecosystem between Taiwan, China and the U.S., but introduces supply chain vulnerabilities amid global tech rivalry. Competitors such as Intel, IBM, and Broadcom may respond with in-house PDK development or strategic acquisitions to secure market dominance. Over the next 12–24 months, silicon photonics will enter a phase of rapid deployment, with optical module costs dropping significantly and enabling higher bandwidth density in AI computing clusters.