Photonics guy Connecting a few dots...
Let's review a few facts and see if we can draw some reasonable conclusions.
Facts:
1. Traditionally, Data Center operators (the FAANG's, Facebook, Amazon, etc.) contract with large hardware manufacturers/integrators (Intel, Cisco, etc.) to design/build the data centers to meet specific requirements of the operator. The H/W manufacturers then work with individual transceiver providers to build components that enabled the integrator to meet the requirements of the data center operator. This results in the entire system being "owned" by the data center operator along with all of the leverage that entails. For example, if LWLG modulators were used in this process, then the IP gleaned by Lightwave can only be sold to Intel – control over Lightwave’s revenue and access to markets is in the hands of Intel. This has resulted in an almost monopolistic control over the marketplace into the hands of the large system operators.
2. Dr. Lebby emphasized that LWLG is working with foundries (plural) to provide them with PDKs to allow LWLG IP to be embedded into the foundries' processes to enable various foundry customers to produce components that include LWLG polymers.
3. Dr. Lebby mentioned in the recent AGM presentation of the need for "standardization" in the fabrication of photonics products. Essentially, selecting the features desired from a catalog, customizing the platform and then fabricating them to meet a customer's specific needs.
This will flip the industry, basically opening it up to anyone wanting to include lightwaves magic polymer in their center. It reminds me of when IBM came out with the Personal Computers, they were like 5 Grand and only available from IBM, then the clones came out for $1200 because you could order the cards on the open market.
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