AUO enters the optical communications market with MicroLED + glass substrate technology

AI data center "advance light and copper exit" business opportunities have emerged, and the technology industry has rushed to seize the opportunity with core technologies. Peng Shuanglang, chairman of panel maker AU Optronics, pointed out that AU Optronics has accumulated 30 years of manufacturing and process experience in the glass industry and is using Micro LED combined with glass substrate process technology to enter the short-distance transmission market of silicon photonics CPO.

As a major panel manufacturer, AUO is also actively deploying the optical communications industry this year. In addition to the ecology related to the transmitter and receiver, it also has a place in the field of semiconductor packaging processes. Peng Shuanglang said that in order to solve the problem of high energy consumption, AI data centers are accelerating the shift to optical communications and using CPO packaging. "Future optical communication modules will definitely turn to glass processes, and we have been doing this for 30 years."

AUO further explained that the data transmission trend of AI data centers in the future will be "light advances and copper retreats." Optical communication modules are composed of a light source and a receiving end. The high-bandwidth, low-power CPO package will use a large number of advanced technologies such as RDL and TGV. These system integration and glass process capabilities are the core technologies that AUO has been best at over the past 30 years.

Peng Shuanglang said that AUO also has the ability to transfer large quantities of Micro LED and is highly confident in its performance in the CPO field. According to market interpretation, this technology can accurately transfer tiny components to CPO substrates. AUO revealed that it has completed samples and is discussing commercialization directions with customers. It has also joined the Silicon Photonics Alliance and actively participated in the formulation of industry standards.

However, AUO also admitted that it will still take about 2 to 3 years to internally evaluate the technology and industry maturity of Micro LED for optical communications before it will make a substantial contribution to revenue.

Overall, AUO is focusing on short-distance optical communication transmission between AI data center cabinets, and starting from advanced packaging to layout. As the construction of AI data centers accelerates in 2026, optical communications are also entering a critical development stage.