Vector Photonics launches AMPPS to standardise high-power PCSEL packaging

The transition to AI-centric video architectures is currently restricted by the thermal and electrical inefficiency of traditional laser sources. By standardising PCSEL packaging, Vector Photonics is attempting to move a theoretical performance leader into commercial reality, providing a pathway to high-speed optical interconnects that consume significantly less power. For the streaming ecosystem, this technical shift is critical for reducing the OpEx of the localized and hyperscale data centers required for real-time 8K rendering and generative AI video applications. The industry should watch for the first packaged demonstrator devices scheduled to be showcased at ECOC 2026 in Malaga this September.

The launch of the AMPPS programme comes as the global optical transceiver market is projected to grow 57% year-on-year to $26 billion in 2026, according to TrendForce reporting from March 2026. This rapid expansion is driven by hyperscale cloud providers like Google and Meta, who are scaling 800G and above interconnects to support generative AI workloads. However, established laser supply chains for these components are increasingly strained by yield limitations and the precise optical alignment required for high-speed manufacturing.

In the UK, the photonics sector has become a primary economic driver, with the Photonics Leadership Group reporting in June 2025 that annual revenues reached £18.5 billion. Projections for 2026 suggest sector turnover could exceed £21 billion. Despite this growth, recent industry warnings from TechUK in May 2026 highlight a critical three-to-five-year window for the UK to solidify its leadership before international competitors dominate the industrial coordination of these sovereign technologies.

Technological development in the PCSEL space is also accelerating globally. In April 2026, Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) announced it had achieved laser oscillation in a 2 µm-band infrared PCSEL, primarily targeting sensing and greenhouse gas detection. While AKM focuses on miniaturized sensing, Vector Photonics is positioning its AMPPS initiative to solve the specific co-packaged optics (CPO) and pluggable transceiver bottlenecks that have historically limited the deployment of surface-emitting lasers in high-power networking environments.