News and BusinessEvery email, video call, cloud service, and connected device depends on data moving quickly and reliably. As digital activity grows, communications networks must carry more information over greater distances without sacrificing speed or quality. Optical communication meets this challenge by encoding data in light and sending it through optical fiber, providing the capacity needed for […]
News and BusinessPhotonics manufacturer Cailabs has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with data centre operator NTT, Inc. to advance direct optical connectivity between satellite networks and terrestrial data infrastructure. The partnership will examine the integration of NTT’s digital coherent and network control technology into Cailabs’ optical ground stations (OGS), as well as the connection of selected optical […]
Technologies and ProductsSemiconductor manufacturer Imec has launched a new Ge/Si photodiode that can handle fast signals, works at low power, and deliver high sensitivity across key-fibre optic wavelengths at ECOC 2026. This breakthrough marks an important step toward next-generation optical interconnects for AI data centres, where vast amounts of data must be exchanged with ever-higher speed and […]
Product FocusEight leading companies have been honoured with prestigious awards for standout innovations in optical connectivity at the ECOC Exhibition’s Industry Awards 2026 ceremony yesterday in Málaga, Spain. The awards highlighted major progress across optical modules, test and measurement, fibre infrastructure, and access networks that are powering Europe’s next generation of connectivity – including photonics, quantum […]
MagazineWelcome to the Autumn 2026 edition and ECOC Exhibition 2026 special of Optical Connections A year ago, we were highlighting the industry’s impressive momentum, as it accelerated new optical technologies and initiatives to meet the emerging demands of AI‑driven data centre connectivity. This year, we are starting to see that progress move from concept to […]
Technologies and ProductsPhotonics Manufacturer LIGENTEC has launched a new type of chip that combines two advanced technologies to accelerate AI interconnects, quantum computing, and high-speed optical communications. The platform integrates Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) and III-V Photodetectors (PD) into its low-loss Silicon Nitride (SiN) platform. The announcement marks the company’s 10 years of Silicon Nitride (SiN) photonic […]
Technologies and ProductsHuawei has announced the launch of the world’s first mass-produced Near-packaged optic (NPO) optical engine as it seeks to set the standard for next-generation AI infrastructure. The Hi-ONE NPO delivers transmission capacity at 7.2 Tbit/s and is currently the industry’s only NPO with a built-in light source. An NPO is an architectural design where light-based […]
News and BusinessTelxius and Nokia are collaborating to deploy 800G coherent pluggable optics across Telxius’ terrestrial transport networks in Europe, the United States and Latin America. The deployment supports the continual evolution of Telxius’ network in response to growing customer demand for scalable, high-capacity connectivity across key international network corridors. Cloud services, AI workloads and data centre […]
News and BusinessElectro-optics developer NLM Photonics has announced that it has received investment from Pangaea Ventures and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation’s Diamond Edge Ventures to accelerate commercialisation of its organic photonic ecosystem. Existing investors Emerald Technology Ventures, Oregon Venture Fund, Idemitsu, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd. (TOK), and StoryHouse Ventures strengthened their investment, alongside private investors and company […]
Applications and ResearchMulti-orbit satcom operations specialist neXat has announced that it has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead a €1.5 million project to automate satellite backup for submarine fibre networks. The company will work with satellite operator Telesat and telecoms infrastructure provider Colt Technology Services Belgium to design, build and field-demonstrate an innovative […]