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IQE announces purchase agreement with Quintessent as QD laser technology moves to customer sampling
IQE plc, a UK-based epiwafer and substrate maker, has announced a purchase agreement with Quintessent Inc for quantum dot laser (QDL) epitaxy supply, enabling customer sampling as the technology targets next-generation AI data-center optical interconnects with lower power and improved reliability. Under the deal, IQE will supply 6-inch gallium arsenide (GaAs) epiwafers through its foundry-ready service, supporting Quintessent’s customer sampling activity as its QDL technology progresses toward commercial deployment and new production introductions. The agreement extends a long-standing relationship that began with a strategic announcement and purchase order in January 2025, building on over a decade of collaboration to transition QDL technology from research to large-scale production. The companies previously announced a partnership to establish the world’s first large-scale QDL epitaxial wafer supply chain. Quintessent’s QDL product architecture enables AI data-center infrastructure by meeting the need for optical interconnects with lower power consumption, simpler manufacturing, and improved reliability compared to traditional laser technologies. IQE’s CEO Jutta Meier stated that the company’s expertise in advanced epitaxy and high-volume manufacturing positions it to support scaling of multiple complementary optical interconnect technologies enabling the AI revolution. Quintessent’s CEO & co-founder Alan Liu noted that the next phase of AI infrastructure buildout requires deep technology and supply chain partnerships to address ecosystem scale, adding that IQE has been a valuable production partner for its