Corning and EXFO Leveraging New Technologies
At OFC 2026, Corning and EXFO executives highlighted how AI‑driven data traffic is forcing unprecedented density in optical networks. They outlined advances in multicore fiber and co‑packaged optics that promise higher capacity with lower power consumption. The companies emphasized the need for joint development and standardized testing to accelerate deployment in hyperscale data centers. Their collaboration aims to bridge the gap between component innovation and large‑scale roll‑out.
Openreach Furthers Its Sustainability Effort with New Zyxel Fiber ONTs
Openreach has teamed with Zyxel to roll out Optical Network Terminals built from 95% recycled plastic, aiming to cut plastic waste in its UK fiber‑broadband expansion. Half a million of these sustainable ONTs are already installed, and the partnership supports...
What Is a Passive Optical Network (PON)?
Passive Optical Networks (PON) are fiber‑optic systems that use unpowered splitters to deliver a single optical signal to multiple endpoints, eliminating the need for powered equipment between the central office and users. The architecture centers on an optical line terminal...
AFL Tapped by Inligo as Fiber Partner for Australia’s Unite Cable System
Inligo Networks has appointed Australian fiber specialist AFL as the primary cable supplier for its new Unite Cable System, a high‑capacity, low‑latency terrestrial network spanning six Australian states. The system will interconnect Darwin, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and regional hubs,...
Fiber’s AI Densification
The fiber industry is accelerating densification to meet AI‑driven data‑center demand, using smaller‑diameter glass, multicore fibers and new standards such as XPO and Hyper‑Rail. These advances can boost a single‑strand’s capacity up to eight times and shrink optical switching racks...
AT&T Enhances Wireless Coverage Along NYC MTA Subway Line via Boldyn Partnership
AT&T has expanded its 5G cellular coverage in New York City subway tunnels by partnering with neutral‑host provider Boldyn. The rollout adds service on the MTA’s 4/5 lines between Bowling Green and Fulton Street and on the G line from Bedford‑Nostrand to Hoyt‑Schermerhorn....
OpenLight Pushes Photonic Integration as AI Networks Drive Optical Scaling
OpenLight unveiled a photonic design platform that lets customers create custom photonic integrated circuits using standard semiconductor design tools, with lasers integrated directly onto the chip. The model mirrors fabless semiconductor companies, aiming to bring silicon‑scale economies to optics and...
Life After Affirmed: What Operators Should Prioritize as 5G Core Strategies Evolve
Microsoft’s decision to retire the Affirmed Networks portfolio has forced operators worldwide to reassess their 4G/5G core infrastructure. The shift accelerates a move toward cloud‑native, micro‑service‑based cores that can run across hybrid and multi‑cloud environments. Vendors that offer modular, low‑cost...
Corning, Meta Begin North Carolina Cable Manufacturing Facility Expansion
Corning and Meta have broken ground on a major expansion of Corning's optical‑fiber manufacturing in Hickory, North Carolina, under a multiyear agreement worth up to $6 billion. The new capacity is expected to lift Corning's North Carolina workforce by 15‑20 percent, creating...
Uniti’s CEO Says We’re in the Early Innings of an Unprecedented Fiber Build
Uniti projects a $1.5 billion revenue opportunity from hyperscaler fiber deals over the next five years and plans to construct nearly 6,000 miles of fiber within three years, generating about $1 billion in non‑recurring cash revenue. The contracts carry an estimated 28 % internal...
Hyperscaler Data Center Capex Jumped 57% in 2025 as AI Deployments Accelerated
Data‑center capital expenditures among the world’s largest hyperscalers surged 57% in 2025, topping $420 billion. The four biggest U.S. cloud providers alone accounted for over $340 billion, with Amazon leading at $125 billion. AI workloads are shifting from training to inferencing, fueling demand...
Fidium Expands Presence in Flexential’s Texas and Minnesota Data Centers
Fidium announced an expanded on‑net presence at Flexential’s data centers in Dallas, Plano and Minneapolis‑St. Paul, adding high‑capacity fiber connectivity to its portfolio. The deal unlocks 100 G and 800 G wavelength services, Ethernet, dark fiber, and Construction‑as‑a‑Service offerings for enterprise and hyperscaler...
Corning Unveils Fiber, Cable, and Connectivity Solutions Targeting AI Data Center Networks
At OFC 2026, Corning introduced a suite of fiber, cable, and connectivity solutions aimed at AI‑driven data center networks. The multicore fiber promises four‑fold capacity per strand while cutting connectors by 75 % and reducing cable mass up to 70 %. Its...
Lumentum’s CEO Says It’s Beginning to Unlock the Massive Potential of OCS and CPO
Lumentum reported Q2 revenue of $665.5 million, driven by strong component sales and a surge in cloud transceiver demand. The company highlighted a $400 million OCS order backlog that hit its $10 million quarterly target three months early and announced progress in co‑packaged...
Ciena’s CEO Sees MOFN as a Key Service Provider Growth Segment
Ciena’s CEO highlighted Managed Optical Fiber Networks (MOFN) as a core growth engine, noting a 40% year‑over‑year rise in Indian orders and record shipments of its RLS product line. The optical networking segment surged 67.9% to $1.02 billion, helping lift total...
Adtran’s CEO Says Carriers Are Taking a Managed Optical Fiber Network (MOFN) Position
Adtran is positioning itself in the emerging Managed Optical Fiber Network (MOFN) market as carriers seek secure, high‑capacity fiber services for enterprises and hyperscalers. The company reported a 33% year‑over‑year rise in optical networking revenue, propelled by cloud and enterprise...
Co-Packaged Optics and the AI Data Center: From Skepticism to Strategic Adoption
Co‑Packaged Optics (CPO) is being touted as a solution to AI data‑center bandwidth, latency, and power challenges. While hyperscalers such as Microsoft, Google, Meta and Amazon are already testing CPO to slash interconnect power by up to 40 % and enable...
Shentel’s Commercial and Residential Fiber Drove a Shift in Its Revenue Mix
Shentel’s aggressive fiber build now covers roughly 427,000 homes and businesses, adding about 81,000 new passings each year. Commercial fiber revenue jumped 13.2% in Q4, pushing fiber services ahead of legacy lines, while residential broadband saw a modest dip but...
PODCAST: Blue Stream Fiber's Turiano on Driving Its AI Strategy and Innovation Roadmap
Blue Stream Fiber, a former cable operator now serving 385,000 residents in Florida, has accelerated its expansion into Houston’s multi‑family market. The company announced executive promotions, elevating Josh Turiano to Chief Innovation and AI Officer to steer its AI roadmap....
Cable One’s MBI Deal to Bolster Its Business Services Capabilities
Cable One will acquire Mega Broadband Investments (MBI) to broaden its rural fiber footprint and diversify its business‑services portfolio. The deal adds roughly 210,000 residential and business customers and expands the company’s network to about 675,000 passings across 24 states....
FiberLight Deepens West Texas Fiber Reach with New 1,400 Route-Mile Build
FiberLight announced a $350 million investment to build 1,400 route‑miles of fiber in West Texas, bringing its regional network to nearly 4.8 million fiber miles. The expansion adds a third diverse route into Abilene, boosting network resiliency and capacity for AI‑driven workloads....
Clearfield’s CEO Says It Sees the Verizon/Frontier Merger as a Significant Opportunity
Clearfield CEO Cheri Beranek says Verizon's acquisition of Frontier creates a major growth opportunity for the fiber‑connectivity supplier. The combined Verizon‑Frontier network will cover over 25 million premises across 31 states, expanding demand for Clearfield’s equipment and its new NOVA platform....
Lumen Scales up Its Network-as-a-Service Customer Base to 2K Business Customers
Lumen announced that its Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform now serves over 2,000 enterprise customers, a 29% quarter‑over‑quarter increase. The growth is underpinned by $12 billion in Private Connectivity Fabric agreements signed in 2025 and a rollout of 400 G wavelength routes across 36...
Charter, Verizon and Zayo Acquisitions to Shake up 2026 Ethernet Rankings
Charter’s $34 billion merger with Cox, Verizon’s $20 billion purchase of Frontier, and Zayo’s $4.25 billion acquisition of Crown Castle’s fiber assets will be finalized in 2026, reshaping the U.S. Ethernet services market. The deals give each acquirer a substantially larger fiber footprint...
Lightpath’s Revenue Rises 35 Percent on Strong Hyperscaler, Enterprise Customer Wins
Lightpath, the wholesale arm of Optimum, posted $468 million in 2025 revenue, a 13% year‑over‑year increase driven by strong hyperscaler and enterprise demand. AI‑driven contract value jumped 40% to $362 million, while hyperscaler total contract value surged 240% to $252 million. The company’s...