India, July 30 -- Seagate is on track to become the world's largest producer of semiconductor lasers by early 2028, according to evidence presented to MPs.

The data storage giant's Derry/Londonderry facility is expected to overtake south-east Asia as the leading global manufacturer and exporter of semiconductor lasers, driven by advances in nano-photonics and next-generation hard drive technology.

Sam Turner, CEO of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre at Queen's University Belfast, told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that Seagate's Springtown site is a global leader in light-based laser technology used in data storage.

"In semiconductors and lasers, we have Seagate in the north-west producing the read/write heads for i...