5 LAYERS OF THE 1.6T OPTICAL SUPPLY CHAIN
The move to 1.6T optics is turning every transceiver into a denser semiconductor system with more content flowing into DSPs, lasers, timing, power management and broader network around each module:
1. $MRVL, $AVGO, $CRDO & $ALAB form signal-processing layer behind 1.6T optics supplying DSPs, SerDes, retimers & equalization that push 224G electrical lanes into next-generation transceivers
2. $COHR, $LITE & $AAOI sit at optical front end across lasers, drivers, photodiodes & TIAs with Coherent consuming all of its InP laser output internally, Lumentum demand still running above supply & AAOI already landing a $200M+ volume 1.6T hyperscaler order
3. $SITM is less obvious timing beneficiary supplying precision oscillators inside transceivers on both ends of an optical link so content scales directly with module count as 1.6T deployments ramp
4. $MPWR, $ADI, $TXN, $MCHP & $ON provide power-management layer as higher-speed optics require more voltage regulation, power conversion & thermal control inside every module
5. $APH, $TEL, $GLW, $CIEN, $NOK & $ANET extend the opportunity beyond the transceiver into connectors, fiber & networking infrastructure required to move 1.6T bandwidth across broader AI fabric