Applied Optoelectronics Expands Houston Footprint to 900,000 Sq Ft

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Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. announced plans to expand its Houston-area footprint by adding two adjacent buildings in Pearland, Texas, totaling approximately 388,000 square feet of additional manufacturing capacity. This expansion builds on the company's existing operations in the region, which include a 210,000-square-foot facility under development and a recently leased 154,000-square-foot building.

Why it matters

The expansion will allow Applied Optoelectronics to significantly increase its production capacity for high-speed 800G and 1.6T optical transceivers, which are critical components for next-generation data center and telecommunications networks. It also expands the company's laser fabrication capabilities by around 350% to support growing demand.

The details

With the addition of the two new Pearland buildings, Applied Optoelectronics will have a total footprint of 900,000 square feet in the Houston area. This will enable the company to expand its monthly production capacity for 800G and 1.6T transceivers up to 700,000 units. The expansion also includes plans to grow the company's laser fabrication capacity by around 350% by the end of 2027.

• Applied Optoelectronics announced the expansion plans on April 17, 2026.
• The company is currently developing a 210,000-square-foot manufacturing facility near its Sugar Land headquarters.
• Applied Optoelectronics recently leased a 154,000-square-foot building at Blue Ridge Commerce Center.

What’s next

The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, allowing Applied Optoelectronics to significantly increase its production capacity for high-speed optical transceivers and laser components.