SP wrote: around 37 minute mark the polymer modulators came up (LWLG and the like) 

It's not even being thought of until 400g per lane comes in when SiPho is done (over)

Andy says coming in 2028/29

next guy up shaves off a year and says testing in 2026 and production in 2027/28

That next guy you speak of is the Co-founder and CTO at NLM Photonics.

Their tech:

Our hybrid electro-optic (EO) technology combines high-performance organic materials with semiconductor photonics platforms. A relative of polymer EO technology, NLM hybrid EO technology involves materials and nanophotonic modulator architectures engineered for each other; our materials are designed to pack the highest performance in the smallest space, and devices are built to maximize the extraordinary EO response of the materials.

Solution-processible precursors enable low-cost deposition

In situ crosslinking during processing to form a thermally stable, durable thermoset plastic

Approach allows higher electro-optic performance AND stability than polymer EO technology

Record EO coefficient of 1100 pm/V, over 35x that of lithium niobate; 200-600 pm/V currently practical (6-21x)

2x-5x the performance of guest-host or sidechain EO polymers

Projected t80 of > 11 years at 120°C (after initial burn-in)

Device operation has been demonstrated in excess of 120°C

Future poling-free approaches enable VLSI and further performance and stability enhancements

The reality here is that it is going to be a while before TFLN or polymer based technologies achieve 400G in a commercial product. The 200G EML’s that POET is working with will be the go to devices in a pluggable form factor for the foreseeable future. It is very interesting to see the discussions around LPO and even that future is not entirely clear. 

Lots of debate but a clear path has been established for POET.