Tower Semiconductor (NASDAQ: TSEM) and Coherent reach 400Gbps silicon modulator milestone

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Tower Semiconductor reported a technology milestone with Coherent, demonstrating 400 Gbps per lane data transmission using a silicon Mach-Zehnder modulator built on Tower’s production-ready silicon photonics (SiPho) process. The test achieved a clear open eye at 420 Gb/s PAM4, using Coherent’s InP continuous‑wave high‑power laser.

This performance is aimed at next-generation 3.2 Tbps optical transceivers and supports both pluggable modules and Co-Packaged Optics for datacenter connections, especially those driven by AI workloads. The announcement underscores Tower’s strategy to leverage existing multi-fab SiPho capacity while it also develops more advanced material systems with Coherent as a key design partner.

Form 6-K: How Foreign Companies Report to the SEC →

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of March 2026 No.5

Commission File Number 0-24790

TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

Ramat Gavriel Industrial Park

P.O. Box 619, Migdal Haemek, Israel 2310502

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F ☒          Form 40-F ☐

On March 23, 2026, the Registrant and Coherent Demonstrate 400Gbps/lane Data Transmission with a Silicon Modulator in a Production-Ready Sipho Process

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
Date: March 23, 2026	By:	/s/ Nati Somekh
		Name: Nati Somekh
		Title:   Corporate Secretary

 

Tower Semiconductor and Coherent Demonstrate 400Gbps/lane Data Transmission

with a Silicon Modulator in a Production-Ready Sipho Process

The demonstration uses a silicon MZM without use of exotic materials targeting next-generation

3.2T optical transceivers

MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel, March 23, 2026 - Tower Semiconductor (NASDAQ/TASE: TSEM), the leading foundry for high-value analog semiconductor solutions and Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR), a global leader in photonics, today announced a breakthrough demonstration of 400 Gbps/lane data transmission using a silicon modulator built in a production-ready silicon photonics (SiPho) process. This achievement targets next-generation 3.2T optical transceivers and extends the capabilities of silicon for pluggable transceivers and Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) in datacenter connections.

Details of the modulator were presented last week at OFC. The demonstration showed a clear open eye at 420 Gb/s PAM4, and utilized Coherent’s InP CW high power laser. The performance milestone was enabled by the strong collaboration between Coherent’s advanced design expertise and Tower Semiconductor’s industry-leading SiPho platform.

The Optical transceiver market continues to outpace prior projections and next-generation bandwidth is required to continue the exponential growth in AI infrastructure.

“We strongly value the partnership with Coherent and are very excited about this breakthrough,” said Russell Ellwanger, CEO of Tower Semiconductor. “The result can extend the use of silicon for another generation of transceivers, re-utilizing the large multi-fab capacity investments we continue to make while we proceed with our work on more advanced material systems for next-generations”.

“We are pleased to partner with Tower Semiconductor on Silicon Photonics Platforms,” said Jim Anderson, CEO of Coherent. “Together with Tower Semiconductor, we are advancing high-performance optical interconnects for AI-driven data centers.”

For additional information about Tower Semiconductor’s SiPho technology platform, visit here.

About Tower Semiconductor

Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ/TASE: TSEM), the leading foundry of high-value analog semiconductor solutions, provides technology, development, and process platforms for its customers in growing markets such as consumer, industrial, automotive, mobile, infrastructure, medical and aerospace and defense. Tower Semiconductor focuses on creating a positive and sustainable impact on the world through long-term partnerships and its advanced and innovative analog technology offering, comprised of a broad range of customizable process platforms such as SiPho, SiGe, BiCMOS, mixed-signal/CMOS, RF CMOS, CMOS image sensor, non-imaging sensors, displays, integrated power management (BCD and 700V), and MEMS. Tower Semiconductor also provides world-class design enablement for a quick and accurate design cycle as well as process transfer services including development, transfer, and optimization, to IDMs and fabless companies. To provide multi-fab sourcing and extended capacity for its customers, Tower Semiconductor currently owns one operating facility in Israel (200mm), two in the U.S. (200mm), and two in Japan (200mm and 300mm) which it owns through its 51% holdings in TPSCo and shares a 300mm facility in Agrate, Italy with STMicroelectronics. For more information, please visit: www.towersemi.com.

About Coherent

Coherent is the global photonics leader. We harness photons to drive innovation. Industry leaders in the datacenter, communications, and industrial markets rely on Coherent’s world-leading technology to fuel their own innovation and growth.
Founded in 1971 and operating in more than 20 countries, Coherent brings the industry’s broadest, deepest technology stack; unmatched supply chain resilience; and global scale to help its customers solve their toughest technology challenges. Visit us at coherent.com.

Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary from those projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. A complete discussion of risks and uncertainties that may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements included in this press release or which may otherwise affect Tower’s business is included under the heading “Risk Factors” in Tower’s most recent filings on Forms 20-F, F-3, F-4 and 6-K, as were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Israel Securities Authority. Tower does not intend to update, and expressly disclaim any obligation to update, the information contained in this release. 

Tower Semiconductor Company Contact:  Orit Shahar | +972-74-7377440 | oritsha@towersemi.com

Tower Semiconductor Investor Relations Contact:  Liat Avraham | +972-4-6506154 | liatavra@towersemi.com

FAQ

What did Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) and Coherent demonstrate in this 6-K?

Tower Semiconductor and Coherent demonstrated 400 Gbps per lane data transmission using a silicon Mach-Zehnder modulator on a production-ready silicon photonics platform, showing a clear open eye at 420 Gb/s PAM4 and targeting next-generation 3.2 Tbps optical transceivers for datacenters.

Why is the 400 Gbps/lane silicon modulator important for Tower Semiconductor (TSEM)?

The 400 Gbps/lane silicon modulator shows Tower’s silicon photonics platform can address next-generation 3.2 Tbps optical transceivers. It helps extend the use of silicon in transceivers, leveraging Tower’s existing multi-fab capacity while the company develops more advanced material systems for future products.

How does this Tower Semiconductor and Coherent result relate to AI data centers?

The demonstration targets optical transceivers used in AI-driven data centers, where bandwidth demands are rising rapidly. Higher-speed silicon photonics interconnects help support exponential AI infrastructure growth, improving links for pluggable modules and Co-Packaged Optics inside large-scale computing facilities.

What role does Coherent play in the Tower Semiconductor silicon photonics result?

Coherent contributed advanced design expertise and supplied an InP continuous-wave high-power laser used in the 420 Gb/s PAM4 demonstration. The collaboration combines Coherent’s photonics leadership with Tower’s silicon photonics foundry platform to advance high-performance optical interconnects for data communications markets.

Does this Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) 6-K include financial or earnings information?

The 6-K focuses on a technological demonstration with Coherent, highlighting 400 Gbps/lane silicon photonics performance for next-generation optical transceivers. It does not discuss revenue, earnings, margins, or other financial metrics, instead emphasizing product capability and partnership aspects.

What markets does Tower Semiconductor target with its silicon photonics platform?

Tower’s silicon photonics platform targets growing markets such as data communications and AI data centers, alongside broader analog opportunities in consumer, industrial, automotive, mobile, infrastructure, medical, and aerospace and defense, supported by multiple 200mm and 300mm fabrication facilities across Israel, the U.S., Japan, and Italy.