Samsung Electronics is importing specialized probe stations from FormFactor and MPI to advance its silicon photonics business. These suppliers provide the same equipment currently certified and used by rival TSMC.
The move shifts Samsung from outsourcing to in-house testing for photonic integrated circuits (PICs). These components are essential for the development of co-packaged optics (CPO).
Samsung expects the new infrastructure to complete internal PIC evaluations by the end of 2026. The company plans to launch a dedicated silicon photonics foundry service in 2027.
This initiative addresses the rising demand for high-speed, low-power data transmission in AI and data center applications. The strategy positions Samsung to compete in the next generation of semiconductor technology.