Leading companies deliver impressive results! Optical modules collectively surge, is the 1.6T volume era beginning?

Optical modules performed strongly on February 3, with Tongyu Communications, Tiantong Shares, and Hangdian Shares hitting the daily limit; Roboteck, Zhishang Technology, and Qianzhao Optoelectronics surged over 10%.

Is Space Computing the New Growth Driver?

In the view of market insiders, as global tech giants actively deploy AI infrastructure, the concept of “space computing” has opened up new imaginative possibilities at the start of 2026. As a core component of data center internal interconnects and inter-data center connections, optical modules have also gained market attention.

On the news front, on February 2 (US local time), SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space exploration company, officially confirmed its merger with AI startup xAI. This transaction was announced to employees via an internal memo, and a related statement signed personally by Musk was also published on the company’s official website, marking a deep integration of its two core businesses—space and AI.

This move is considered by many market analysts to be one of Musk’s key actions in deploying space data centers. According to a report by Cailian Press on January 22, citing informed sources, SpaceX’s original mid- to long-term goal—developing orbital data centers—had become Musk’s most urgent task by mid-2025. There is an almost obsessive interest in making SpaceX the first company to realize this goal (orbital data centers).

Last Friday, according to Cailian Press, a recent application submitted by SpaceX to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revealed plans for a satellite network called the “Orbital Data Center System,” which aims to launch and operate a constellation of up to one million satellites.

In addition to SpaceX, American aerospace company Blue Origin, as well as Nvidia, Google, and other companies, also have plans to deploy data centers in space or have already invested in related enterprises.

China Is Also Actively Planning

Domestically, China has incorporated the development of the aerospace information industry, satellite internet, and integrated space-ground information networks into multiple national strategies such as Digital China. Space computing is transitioning from conceptual research to early exploration stages. The “TianShu TianSuan” model involves deploying AI large models and computing modules directly on satellite platforms, enabling “on-orbit computing, on-orbit recognition, and on-orbit decision-making.”

Recently, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation announced plans during the 14th Five-Year Plan period to promote the development of new fields including space digital intelligence infrastructure. This includes building gigawatt-level space digital intelligence infrastructure, creating a new space system architecture integrating cloud, edge, and terminal, and achieving deep integration of computing power, storage, and operational capacity to empower “TianShu TianSuan,” “EarthShu TianSuan,” and “Heaven-Earth Integrated Computing.”

In November 2025, the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Zhongguancun Science City Management Committee released a plan proposing the construction and operation of large-scale centralized data center systems with over one gigawatt (GW) of power on the 700-800 km dawn-dusk orbit, aiming to bring large-scale AI computing power into space. It is understood that special orbits like dawn-dusk can nearly achieve all-day solar energy collection, providing stable and sustainable energy supply.

Optical Module Performance Forecasts Are Bright

Recent performance forecasts for 2025 show that, thanks to the construction of AI data centers, the overall performance of the optical module concept has expanded.

Leading stocks include Zhongji Xuchuang, which expects a net profit attributable to shareholders of 9.8 billion to 11.8 billion yuan in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 89.5% to 128.17%. New Easy盛 expects a net profit attributable to shareholders of 9.4 billion to 9.9 billion yuan, up 231.24% to 248.86%. Tanfeng Communications projects a net profit attributable to shareholders of 1.881 billion to 2.15 billion yuan, a growth of 40% to 60%.

Overall, among the 42 optical module concept stocks that have disclosed performance forecasts, 24 are expected to perform well, accounting for 57%. Fifteen stocks are expected to double their upper performance estimates year-on-year, with Yuanjie Technology’s upper estimate increasing by as much as 3442.1%.

Is the 1.6T Volume Era Beginning?

Looking ahead, high-speed optical modules (800G/1.6T, etc.) are becoming the market’s more favored direction. “1.6T optical modules began shipping to key customers in Q3 2025, with volume increasing more rapidly in Q4, marking the start of the 1.6T volume era,” described Zhongji Xuchuang in an investor relations record on February 1. The company expects that demand for 1.6T optical modules will see “significant growth” in 2026 compared to last year, with rapid order growth in Q1 and potential for sequential growth.

Analysts from China Galaxy Securities stated that by 2026, domestic demand for optical modules will upgrade from 400G to 800G and 1.6T. Coupled with the increased computing power demand driven by AI applications, this will boost optical module demand; overseas markets are currently quite optimistic, with major cloud providers maintaining high capital expenditure expectations this year. The performance improvements of GPUs are driving a clear trend of upgrading overseas optical module speeds, and the demand for high-speed, high-value optical modules is expected to accelerate.

According to LightCounting’s forecast, 2026 will see rapid volume growth for 800G and 1.6T optical modules, and by 2030, the overall market size for 800G and 1.6T Ethernet optical modules is expected to exceed $22 billion.

(Source: Oriental Fortune Research Center)