India’s direct domestic photonics market is estimated at about 2.5 billion and is projected to reach 10 billion by 2031. The Indian Photonics Association (IPA) was launched in New Delhi on 9 September 2026 with 65 founding members, including SFO Technologies, GX Quantum Photonics, Lightspeed Photonics and Tejas Networks.
Photonics as a Technology Domain
Photonics is the science and technology of generating, controlling and detecting light, including lasers, optical fibres, sensors and imaging systems. It is used in telecommunications, data transmission, medical devices, industrial automation and defence systems.
Market Drivers and Industrial Use
High-speed AI data centres, telecom networks and high-performance electronic devices are major demand areas for photonics components. Domestic AI data centres are moving from photonics connectors supporting 10–40 Gbps to connectors with capacities of 100–400 Gbps.
GX Group has announced plans to begin manufacturing at its advanced photonics facility from December 2026. Optical components such as transceivers are central to high-speed data transfer in fibre-optic communication systems.
Policy Support and Industry Structure
The Indian government is supporting domestic production of optical components under the second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission. The IPA has been formed as India’s first independent industry body for photonics and has 65 founding members from the sector.
Photonics manufacturing covers components such as lasers, detectors, modulators, transceivers and optical interconnects. These products are used in broadband systems, cloud infrastructure and next-generation communication networks.
Important Facts for Exams
- Photonics is a branch of science that deals with light-based technologies, including optical communication and laser systems.
- Transceivers are devices that combine transmission and reception functions in communication networks.
- Gbps stands for gigabits per second and is a standard measure of data transfer speed.
- The India Semiconductor Mission is a government initiative linked to semiconductor and electronics manufacturing in India.
Market Estimates and Definitions
Public reports have used different market definitions for India’s photonics sector. The IPA has cited the direct domestic market at 2.5 billion, while a broader estimate placed India’s photonics market at 39.42 billion in 2025 with a projection of $55.39 billion by 2030.
