The Optical Interposer, incorporating POET's dielectric waveguide technology, reduces coupling and transmission losses below levels found in conventional and silicon photonics (SiPh)-based devices

Why is this important? Reduced losses below existing technologies reduces the power requirements to maintain both the accuracy of wavelength and the sensitivity to  receive signals. Very important parameters especially when POET markets sensing applications such as LIDAR. But also the power budget for data communications in everything from mobile  applications to the data center.

and allows passive optical alignment as well as automated wafer scale pick-and-place assembly and test. The result is a dramatic reduction in manufacturing costs, lower power consumption, and often smaller form factors compared to other approaches, allowing POET's customers to produce highly differentiated products across a range of advanced photonics applications.

Cost is King.