POET Engaged by Global Financial Services Leader to Develop Custom Optical Engine

Rhea-AI Summary

POET Technologies (TSX Venture: PTK; NASDAQ: POET) has signed an agreement to develop a novel optical engine for high-frequency trading (HFT) operations with a global capital markets firm. The multi-phase project aims to increase speed and reduce latency in current transceiver solutions used in securities trading.

The first phase involves designing POET Optical Interposer-based transceiver engine prototypes to meet customer specifications, followed by additional prototypes and potential production of customized optical engines. The project will generate revenue for POET in 2025 and demonstrates the company's expansion into a new market segment.

Positive

• New revenue stream secured for 2025 through multi-phase development project
• Entry into high-frequency trading market segment
• Contract with major global financial services company

Negative

• None.

Insights

Technology and Market Strategy Analyst

This strategic partnership marks a pivotal expansion for POET Technologies into the highly lucrative financial technology sector. High-frequency trading firms operate in an environment where microseconds can translate into millions in profit or loss, making the development of ultra-low-latency optical engines a critical competitive differentiator.

The multi-phase structure of this agreement is particularly noteworthy. Starting with prototype development provides POET with immediate revenue generation while establishing a foothold in the HFT infrastructure market. If successful, the transition to production could open up significant recurring revenue opportunities, as HFT firms typically maintain multiple redundant systems and require regular technology upgrades to maintain their competitive edge.

The selection of POET by a global leader in HFT validates the company's technical capabilities and could serve as a powerful reference case for penetrating the broader financial services market. This sector is particularly attractive due to its:

• High barriers to entry and stringent performance requirements
• Willingness to invest in cutting-edge technology
• Need for continuous infrastructure upgrades to maintain competitive advantages

The agreement also demonstrates the versatility of POET's Optical Interposer platform, suggesting potential applications in other latency-sensitive markets such as cloud computing and AI infrastructure. This diversification strategy could help reduce POET's market risk while expanding its total addressable market.

Demonstrates versatility of Optical Interposer Platform and adds new revenue stream

TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- POET Technologies Inc. ("POET" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: PTK; NASDAQ: POET), a leader in the design and implementation of highly-integrated optical engines and light sources for Artificial Intelligence networks, announces that it has signed an agreement to develop a novel optical engine for use in a high-frequency securities trading operation for a global capital markets firm. High-frequency trading (“HFT”) is a type of automated trading that uses powerful computers to execute a large number of trades in fractions of a second.

The multi-phase project is a pioneering effort to increase the speed and decrease the latency inherent in current transceiver solutions utilized by securities trading operations. The first phase of the project will begin immediately with POET designing prototypes of POET Optical Interposer–based transceiver engines built to meet the customer’s specification. Subsequent phases include building additional prototypes and, if successful, production optical engines customized for this application.

"We are delighted to have embarked on this ambitious project with a global leader in HFT," commented Raju Kankipati, Chief Revenue Officer of POET. "This project generates revenue for POET this year and demonstrates the versatility of the POET Optical Interposer and the entry into a new, related market space by the Company."

About POET Technologies Inc.
POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical modules, optical engines and light source products to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers. POET's photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical Interposer™, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET's Optical Interposer-based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems. POET's Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges in 5G networks, machine-to-machine communication, self-contained "Edge" computing applications and sensing applications, such as LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles. POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in Allentown, PA, Shenzhen, China, and Singapore. More information about POET is available on our website at www.poet-technologies.com.

Media Relations Contact: Adrian Brijbassi Adrian.brijbassi@poet.tech

Company Contact: Thomas R. Mika, EVP & CFO tm@poet.tech

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "propose", "project", "outlook", "foresee" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include the Company's expectations with respect to the success of the Company's product development efforts, the performance of its products, operations, meeting revenue targets, and the expectation of continued success in the financing efforts, the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Company's technology as well as the market acceptance, inclusion and timing of the Company's technology in current and future products and expectations regarding its successful development of high-frequency trading solutions and its penetration of the Artificial Intelligence hardware markets.

Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the completion of its development efforts with its securities trading partner, the ability to build working prototypes to the customer’s specifications, and the size, future growth and needs of Artificial Intelligence network suppliers. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the failure to produce working prototypes on time and within budget, the failure of Artificial Intelligence networks to continue to grow as expected, the failure of the Company's products to meet performance requirements for AI and datacom networks, operational risks in the completion of the Company's projects, the ability of the Company to generate sales for its products, and the ability of its customers to deploy systems that incorporate the Company's products. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company's securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
120 Eglinton Avenue, East, Suite 1107, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E2- Tel: 416-368-9411 - Fax: 416-322-5075

FAQ

What is POET Technologies developing for the high-frequency trading industry?

POET Technologies is developing a novel optical engine based on their Optical Interposer technology for high-frequency trading operations, aimed at increasing speed and reducing latency in securities trading operations.

When will POET Technologies begin the HFT optical engine development project?

The first phase of the project will begin immediately, starting with the design of POET Optical Interposer-based transceiver engine prototypes.

What are the phases of POET's new HFT optical engine development project?

The project includes multiple phases: first, designing prototypes of Optical Interposer-based transceiver engines, followed by building additional prototypes, and if successful, producing customized optical engines for the application.

How will the new HFT project impact POET Technologies' revenue in 2025?

The project will generate new revenue for POET Technologies in 2025, though specific financial details were not disclosed in the announcement.