Zetta Semiconductor made an appearance at at iFOC 2025

The 23rd Infostone Optical Communications Conference (iFOC 2025) convened at the InterContinental Hotel in the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, drawing leading experts, corporate representatives, and researchers from across the globe. As a premier forum for technological and market exchange in optical fiber communications, this year’s event focused on the evolving role of optoelectronics amid the rise of AI-driven applications. Dr. K-H Huang, Director of the R&D Center at Zetta Semiconductor, delivered a keynote address titled “Evolution of InP-Based Photonics Technologies in Fiber-Optic Communications.” His presentation offered a comprehensive overview of indium phosphide (InP) photonics and its pivotal role in shaping the future of high-speed optical networks.

He traced the origins of InP-based photonics, noting the first demonstration of optical fiber communication in 1963, followed by the subsequent development of low-loss transmission at long wavelengths and InP-based laser diodes. He noted that InP direct bandgap, high electron mobility, and excellent lattice matching are key elements in the innovation of active devices, and that its usefulness has been proven for over 60 years. He emphasized its enduring importance and stated that it will continue to be essential for the future development of this field.

wavelength band and Current Product Introduction

Introduction to InP

Zetta Semiconductor, a domestic IDM (Integrated Device Manufacturer), has leveraged its deep expertise in InP technology to build a vertically integrated production ecosystem—from chip design and epitaxial growth to packaging and testing. This full-stack capability enables the company to deliver a diverse portfolio of high-performance optical chips tailored to a range of applications. Thus, IDMs for InP-based photonic chips said that independently managing the entire chip manufacturing process not only ensures process stability and controllability, but also improves product reliability and consistency, which is crucial for providing customers with a long-term and stable supply chain.

IDM Mode

Zetta’s flagship offerings include gain chips (GC/SOA) for tunable light sources, 100G/200G PAM4 electroabsorption modulated lasers (EMLs), and continuous-wave distributed feedback (CW-DFB) lasers. Among these, the 100G PAM4 EMLs are entering mass production, targeting data center interconnects and 5G deployments. Meanwhile, 200G PAM4 EMLs are actively being promoted to meet the demands of next-generation high-bandwidth applications. Dr. K-H Huang shared insights into the company’s products and their target application scenario, highlighting ongoing R&D in EML–SOA integration and high-power CW-DFB-LD technologies too. These efforts aim to overcome current performance bottlenecks and expand the applicability of InP-based solutions.

Product Lineup and Target Application

Strategically, He also pointed out and emphasized that InP and silicon photonics are not rivals but complementary platforms. By integrating InP strengths in active device performance with silicon photonics advantages in integration density and cost efficiency, the industry can accelerate progress toward more compact, energy-efficient, and scalable optical communication systems.

Looking ahead, Zetta Semiconductor reaffirmed its commitment to advancing high-end InP-based photonics chips through sustained innovation. With a focus on data center interconnects, coherent transmission, and AI computing, the company aims to support the high-quality development of China’s optical fiber communication industry.