GlobalFoundries unveils SCALE platform to tackle AI data centre bottlenecks
The new co-packaged optics solution marks the first to meet Optical Compute Interconnect Multi-Source Agreement specifications, aiming to solve heat and bandwidth issues in AI infrastructure.
GlobalFoundries has launched the SCALE (Silicon photonics Co-packaged Advanced Light Engine) platform, positioning it as a critical infrastructure component for artificial intelligence scale-up architectures. Announced in May 2026, the technology utilises co-packaged optics to replace traditional copper wiring with light, addressing the escalating bandwidth and thermal bottlenecks that are constraining modern data centres.
The platform is the industry’s first to meet Optical Compute Interconnect Multi-Source Agreement specifications. It employs both coarse and dense wavelength-division multiplexing to push bandwidth density beyond the capabilities of copper. GlobalFoundries has already demonstrated 8λ and 16λ bi-directional dense wavelength-division multiplexing natively on the SCALE platform, a milestone the company describes as fundamental to future scalability.
This strategic shift contrasts with the standard approach employed by major hyperscalers such as Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta, which have focused primarily on expanding GPU clusters and adding more chips. GlobalFoundries’ model targets the physical limitations of data transmission, moving optical transceivers directly alongside chips to reduce the distance data travels through copper, thereby minimising heat generation and signal loss.
The announcement follows the company’s November 2025 acquisition of Advanced Micro Foundry in Singapore, a move designed to bolster its silicon photonics manufacturing capabilities and diversify its supply chain. The acquisition added specialised manufacturing assets and engineering depth to GlobalFoundries’ portfolio, which already supports 50 Gbps and 100 Gbps micro-ring modulators.
Commercial momentum for the technology is evident, with GlobalFoundries logging over 500 design wins for its silicon photonics technology in 2025. Revenue from the sector is expected to nearly double again in 2026. Despite the technological progress, the company’s shares fell nearly 10% on 27 May 2026 following allegations of stock sales by Mubadala, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund. Separately, the U.S. government has proposed a $375 million award to support domestic quantum manufacturing infrastructure.
