POET Technologies demonstrated two external light source (ELS) products—POET Blazar and the next-generation POET Starlight—at the Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) Conference. The ELS platforms target optical connectivity for artificial intelligence networks, including co-packaged optics (CPO) and high-bandwidth, chip-to-chip, light-based data-communications links.

POET Blazar is described as a “highly integrated hybrid laser” aligned with POET’s “semiconductorization of photonics” approach. Blazar is a high-power, multi-channel light source positioned as an alternative to traditional distributed feedback (DFB) laser-based solutions. It is based on wafer-level, chip-scale technology, which POET says lowers light-source cost, increases scale and reliability, and increases the effective supply of Indium Phosphide. At OFC 2026, POET plans to demonstrate Blazar’s high output power and multi-wavelength capabilities.

“Blazar makes AI connectivity much more affordable thanks to an architecture that reduces costs and increases scale and manufacturing efficiency,” said Dr. Suresh Venkatesan, Executive Chairman and CEO of POET.

POET also showed the next generation of POET Starlight, its first ELS solution. The Starlight demonstration included a compact engine with eight-channel high-power lasers at multiple wavelengths. Starlight was integrated into a working optical engine to show commercial applicability to the industry-standard ELSFP module.

Source: POET Technologies