<div id="readability-page-1">SAN JOSE, Calif., March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- POET Technologies Inc. ( POET ) , a leader in integrated photonics solutions for artificial intelligence networks, and Lessengers, a developer of advanced optical connectivity technologies, today announced the joint development of a 1.6T 2×DR4 optical transceiver module designed for next-generation AI clusters and hyperscale data center networks. The effort combines POET’s highly integrated optical engines, built on its Optical Interposer™ platform, with Lessengers’ Direct Optical Wiring (DOW) technology, creating a scalable architecture for high-density optical interconnects required by emerging AI infrastructure. The 1.6T 2×DR4 transceiver will utilize POET’s optical engines to integrate lasers, modulators, photodiodes, and passive optical components on a compact photonic platform. Lessengers’ DOW technology provides a flexible optical wiring approach that enables efficient optical routing between photonic devices and fiber interfaces, helping simplify packaging while supporting high-bandwidth optical connectivity. Samples of the 1.6T 2×DR4 transceiver module are targeted for availability in Q2 2026, aligning with the anticipated industry transition toward higher bandwidth optical links for AI-driven data center networks. “AI infrastructure is driving rapid increases in optical bandwidth requirements,” said Raju Kankipati, POET’s Chief Revenue Officer. “By combining POET’s Optical Interposer-based optical engines with Lessengers’ innovative Direct Optical Wiring technology, we are developing an efficient path toward 1.6T 2×DR4 transceiver modules that can meet the performance, scalability, and integration requirements of next-generation data center architectures.” “Lessengers’ Direct Optical Wiring (DOW) technology was developed to simplify optical connectivity while enabling scalable high-speed optical interconnects,” said Taeyong Kim, Chief Marketing Officer at Lessengers. “Integrating our DOW technology with POET’s Optical Interposer platform brings together complementary innovations that support the development of compact, high-performance 1.6T optical modules for hyperscale and AI networking environments.” Both companies will showcase their technologies at the 2026 OFC Conference and Exhibition, taking place March 16–19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Attendees are invited to visit: <ul type="disc"><li>POET Technologies ( POET ) – Booth 339</li><li>Lessengers – Booth 415</li></ul> to learn more about the companies’ technologies and their work toward next-generation optical interconnect solutions. The market forecast for 1.6T DR8 is more than 125 million units over the next five years (2027-2031), according to a LightCounting report. Both DR8 and 2xDR4 address the same market, with the only difference being the type of optical connector used. About POET Technologies Inc. ( POET ) POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical modules, optical engines and light source products to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers. POET's photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical Interposer™, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET's Optical Interposer-based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems. POET's Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges in 5G networks, machine-to-machine communication, self-contained &#34;Edge&#34; computing applications and sensing applications, such as LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles. POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in Allentown, PA, Shenzhen, China, and Singapore. More information about POET is available on our website at www.poet-technologies.com. <table><tbody><tr><td>Media Relations Contact: Adrian Brijbassi Adrian.brijbassi@poet.tech</td><td>Company Contact: Thomas R. Mika, EVP &amp; CFO tm@poet.tech</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table> About Lessengers Lessengers is an innovative optical solution provider, powered by its patent DOW technology, which enables cost effective direct optical coupling without the use of lens optics. This provides the most suitable solution for data center applications such as 800G/1.6T optical transceivers, active optical cables (AOCs), on-board, near packaged, or co-packaged optics. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “outlook”, “foresee” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include the Company’s expectations with respect to the success of the Company’s product development efforts, the performance of its products, the expected results of its operations, meeting revenue targets, and the expectation of continued success in the financing efforts, the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Company’s technology as well as the market acceptance, and inclusion and timing of the Company’s technology in current and future products. Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, management’s expectations regarding the success and timing for completion of its development efforts, the introduction of new products, financing activities, future growth, recruitment of personnel, opening of offices, plans for and completion of projects by the Company’s consultants, contractors and partners, availability of capital, and the necessity to incur capital and other expenditures and expectations regarding partnerships and co-developments efforts with third-parties. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the failure of its products to meet performance requirements, lack of sales in its products, once released, operational risks in the completion of the Company’s anticipated projects, risks affecting the Company’s ability to execute projects, the ability of the Company to generate sales for its products, the ability to attract key personnel, the ability to raise additional capital and the performance of the products highlighted in this release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law. 120 Eglinton Avenue, East, Suite 1107, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E2- Tel: 416-368-9411 - Fax: 416-322-5075. Image: https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTY3MjgxNSM3NDg3NzU1IzIwMjkwNDE= Image: https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/ZjBlM2Q4NjgtNmMwYi00N2RjLTllMTItMGMyOTQ2ZDRiZThjLTEwNDA2MTItMjAyNi0wMy0xNy1lbg==/tiny/POET-Technologies-Inc-.png Image: Primary Logo Source: POET Technologies Inc. ( POET )</div>

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POET Technologies and Lessengers have announced a partnership to develop a 1.6T 2×DR4 optical transceiver module aimed at enhancing AI network connectivity. This collaboration combines POET's Optical Interposer™ platform with Lessengers' Direct Optical Wiring technology, creating a scalable architecture for high-density optical interconnects. The transceiver is expected to be available in Q2 2026, coinciding with the industry's shift towards higher bandwidth optical links. Both companies will showcase their innovations at the 2026 OFC Conference in Los Angeles, highlighting their contributions to next-generation optical interconnect solutions.

POET Technologies and Lessengers Expand Partnership to Deliver 1.6T 2ÃDR4 Optical Transceivers for AI Network Connectivity