Applied Optoelectronics Announces First Volume Shipment of Data Center Transceivers to Recently Engaged Major Hyperscale Customer

Rhea-AI Summary

Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) has achieved a significant milestone with its first volume shipment of high-speed data center transceivers to a major hyperscale customer they recently re-engaged with after several years. CEO Dr. Thompson Lin emphasized this shipment aligns with their expected growth in data center transceiver sales, particularly in the second half of the year. The company is executing its US-based capacity expansion plan and anticipates increased shipments to this and other customers. This development is particularly significant as it represents renewed business with a major customer and supports AOI's position in providing optical transceivers for AI-focused data centers.

Positive

• First volume shipment to major hyperscale customer marks re-engagement after several years
• Aligns with company's projected growth in data center transceiver sales
• Executing US-based capacity expansion to support increased demand
• Positions company in growing AI data center market

Negative

• None.

SUGAR LAND, Texas, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (“AOI”) (Nasdaq: AAOI), a leading provider of fiber-optic access network products for the internet datacenter, cable broadband, telecom and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) markets, today announced the first volume shipment of high-speed data center transceivers to a recently re-engaged major hyperscale data center customer.

This milestone is the first volume shipment of these advanced high-speed data center transceivers to this customer, and the first shipment of significant quantity to this customer in several years.

“Throughout the year, we have been expecting growth in data center transceiver sales, particularly in the second half of the year,” commented Dr. Thompson Lin, AOI’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO. “This first volume shipment to this customer represents a significant milestone on a journey to what we continue to expect to be significant business opportunities with this newly re-engaged customer. As we execute on our previously-announced US-based capacity expansion plan, we continue to expect shipments to this customer and other customers to increase in line with our previous commentary of a second-half ramp.”

For more information about AOI’s industry-leading line of advanced optical transceivers for AI-focused data centers, please refer to the information on AOI’s website at www.ao-inc.com.

About Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical products, including components, modules and equipment. AOI's products are the building blocks for broadband fiber access networks around the world, where they are used in the internet datacenter, CATV broadband, telecom and FTTH markets. AOI supplies optical networking lasers, components and equipment to tier-1 customers in all four of these markets. In addition to its corporate headquarters, wafer fab and advanced engineering and production facilities in Sugar Land, TX, AOI has engineering and manufacturing facilities in Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China. For additional information, visit www.ao-inc.com.

Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "could," "would," "target," "seek," "aim," "predicts," "think," "objectives," "optimistic," "new," "goal," "strategy," "potential," "is likely," "will," "expect," "plan," "project," "permit" or by other similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements include management’s beliefs and expectations related to our outlook for the second quarter of 2025 and the remainder of 2025. Such forward-looking statements reflect the views of management at the time such statements are made. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions and current expectations, which could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: reduction in the size or quantity of customer orders; change in demand for the company's products due to industry conditions; changes in manufacturing operations; volatility in manufacturing costs; delays in shipments of products; disruptions in the supply chain; change in the rate of design wins or the rate of customer acceptance of new products; the company's reliance on a small number of customers for a substantial portion of its revenues; potential pricing pressure; a decline in demand for our customers' products or their rate of deployment of their products; general conditions in the internet datacenter, cable television (CATV) broadband, telecom, or fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) markets; changes in the world economy (particularly in the United States and China); changes in the regulation and taxation of international trade, including the imposition of tariffs; changes in currency exchange rates; the negative effects of seasonality; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in the company's documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. More information about these and other risks that may impact the company's business are set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the company's quarterly and annual reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to us as of the date hereof, and qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in the company's expectations.

Investor Relations Contact:

The Blueshirt Group, Investor Relations
Lindsay Savarese
+1-212-331-8417
ir@ao-inc.com

FAQ

What is the significance of AAOI's first volume shipment to the hyperscale customer?

This shipment represents a significant milestone as it's the first volume delivery of advanced high-speed data center transceivers to a major customer they've re-engaged with after several years, indicating potential for substantial business opportunities.

What are AAOI's expectations for data center transceiver sales in 2025?

AAOI expects growth in data center transceiver sales, particularly in the second half of 2025, with increasing shipments to both this re-engaged customer and others.

How is Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) preparing for increased customer demand?

AAOI is executing a US-based capacity expansion plan to support increased shipments to customers.

What markets does Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) serve?

AAOI provides fiber-optic access network products for internet datacenter, cable broadband, telecom, and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) markets.

How is AAOI positioned in the AI data center market?

AAOI offers advanced optical transceivers specifically designed for AI-focused data centers, positioning them in this growing market segment.