The BuildJune 16, 2026via NVIDIA Blog
Coherent Breaks Ground on Expanded Texas Facility, Scaling AI’s Optical Backbone
Why it matters
As AI infrastructure scales exponentially, optical components and compound semiconductors are becoming as critical as GPUs. Coherent's Texas expansion signals major capex acceleration in AI's physical layer — and potential supply chain concentration risk.
Key signals
- Coherent breaking ground on expanded Sherman, Texas manufacturing facility
- Company manufactures lasers, optical components, and compound semiconductors for AI interconnect
- Operating world's first 6-inch indium phosphide production line
- Published on NVIDIA blog (indicates strategic partnership/ecosystem importance)
- Date: June 16, 2026
The hook
Texas is becoming AI's optical backbone. Coherent just broke ground on a $XXX expanded fab making the lasers and semiconductors that wire AI systems together.
AI runs at the speed of light. More and more, that light is made in Texas. Coherent broke ground today on an expanded manufacturing building in Sherman, Texas. The company makes the lasers, optical components and compound semiconductors that wire AI systems together — and runs what it calls the world’s first 6-inch indium phosphide […]