友达董事长彭双浪称Micro LED仍是光通讯潜在方案，与大立光技术路线之争未定但商用需2–3年

AUO chairman Paul Peng said Micro LED remains a potential option for optical communications, despite Largan Technology's doubts about pairing it with multimode fiber in co-packaged optics. The comments underscore an unsettled market, where rising AI data-center bandwidth needs are driving competing approaches, while customers continue testing technologies before adoption.

The debate followed Largan's investor conference on October 8, when analysts asked chairman En-ping Lin about the prospects for using Micro LED with multimode fiber in co-packaged optics applications. Lin said the approach is relatively easy to assemble, but could require too many light-emitting components. That could create concerns about power consumption and product size, leaving customers cautious about practical adoption.
Peng said optical communications technology remains in its early stages, with no single approach yet dominating. He said Micro LED should be viewed as a promising solution rather than one that has been ruled out, and added that a hybrid architecture could emerge as the market develops.
Complementary strengths open room for cooperation
Peng said AUO and Largan have complementary capabilities and are not direct competitors, leaving room for cooperation. Largan is developing fiber arrays and Fiber Array Units, while AUO has expertise in light-emitting components and module technology. Combining those capabilities could help strengthen the optical communications supply chain.
Largan has been actively expanding into the market. Lin said the company's fiber-array products had passed certification by one customer, with capacity installation scheduled for completion by the end of the second quarter of 2027. The company also plans to develop Fiber Array Units and begin mass production in the second half of 2027.
Largan has already demonstrated its Fiber Array Unit production line to customers, extending its precision optics manufacturing capabilities into the AI data-transmission market.
The development of optical links is being driven by increasing bandwidth and speed requirements at AI data centers. Peng said replacing copper cables with optical connections, while controlling power consumption and heat dissipation, has become a key industry challenge.
Peng said Micro LED applications in optical communications would likely need another two to three years to mature. The technology still requires extensive customer sampling, and AUO is continuing that work.
Automotive displays emerge as next area to watch
Peng expressed confidence in Micro LED's display prospects beyond optical communications. Micro LED products such as watches have already entered mass production, while automotive applications are emerging as the next area to watch. Automakers have shown greater interest in adopting the technology, and AUO expects its use in vehicles to expand gradually.
Peng said display technology has become an important tool for automakers seeking to differentiate their products. Whether automakers use LCD or Micro LED, the technologies can improve in-vehicle display experiences. Micro LED offers high brightness and flexible form factors that can accommodate different vehicle designs and space requirements, with potential applications extending to windows and roofs.
AUO is also continuing discussions with notebook and other information-technology customers on new Micro LED applications. Peng expects the technology to gain applications in displays, optical communications, and other fields over the next two to three years.