A laser light source, a submount for a semiconductor laser, and a method of providing a laser light source are provided. The laser light source includes a submount with first and second electrical contacts thereon and a trench there-between. A semiconductor laser is bonded to the submount by bonding third and fourth electrical contacts of the laser to the first and second electrical contacts, respectively. The third and fourth electrical contacts of the laser are arranged on opposite side of a laser active stripe, which is arranged over the trench of the submount.