Samsung, in collaboration with Broadcom, is reportedly developing a new technology called “Silicon Photonics” or “Optical Semiconductors.” This technology helps chips send information using light instead of electricity, which can make data move more than ten times faster than before.
Samsung Plans “Optical Semiconductors” Mass Production with Broadcom within Two Years
According to a report by the Korean outlet Chosun, citing industry sources, Samsung, in collaboration with Broadcom, is developing “Optical Semiconductor” technology with the intention of commercializing the tech for mass production within two years. Samsung is also in talks with Nvidia and others about commercializing the technology, but its collaboration with Broadcom is the most advanced.
Samsung lost market share to TSMC due to the low yield of its 3nm process. Now, the Korean firm is focusing on stabilizing yield and improving the performance of its 2nm process. It wants to compete with TSMC (the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry) in next-generation technologies like “Optical Semiconductors.”
TSMC plans to commercialize the same technology in the latter half of this year for the production of NVIDIA’s artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator. That said, Samsung is approximately 1–2 years behind TSMC in the commercialization schedule for “Optical Semiconductors” technology.
“TSMC began R&D on silicon photonics technology ahead of Samsung Electronics,” and “Samsung Electronics responded quickly early last year when Broadcom proposed joint development. Currently, Samsung Electronics is collaborating the fastest with Broadcom,” a semiconductor industry insider said.
Now, Samsung wants to accelerate the development of next-generation foundry processes in collaboration with Broadcom. Broadcom is a major player in wireless and optical communication semiconductors. Wireless chips generate about 30% of its sales, while optical communication chips generate around 10%. In cooperation with Samsung, Broadcom plans to use this new technology for mass production of next-generation application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The company also wants to use it in optical communication equipment semiconductors.
In related news, Samsung began an audit of its System LSI Division in January 2025. This process is still ongoing. The audit was started because the division was not performing well despite spending a lot of money on it. The Management Diagnosis Office is conducting the audit.
