Tencent recently released the 102.4T NPO Switch Design Reference Specification, making public its design plans covering system architecture, chassis structure, fiber management, and software operations. The switch carries 32 3.2T NPO modules and 32 ELSFP external light source modules, providing 128 800G MPO16 optical ports. Tencent says that, compared with traditional pluggable switches, total system power consumption is reduced by about 1000W and end-to-end transmission latency by nearly 100ns.
Why we recommend it: From switch system design to multi-source supply disagreements, the material shows the concrete tension between NPO's open, disaggregated approach and industry specifications that have yet to converge.
Oct 19Mon
Monday
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score5858
An Omdia report notes that pre-terminated fiber solutions are expanding from traditional FTTH scenarios into data centers, edge computing and smart cities. Its data show that cloud business is driving data center capacity growth of 25% per year, and AI development will further increase demand for fast, reliable fiber deployment. Pre-terminated solutions reduce field termination errors through improved connectors and plug-and-play designs, while Clearfield's vertically integrated manufacturing is used to respond to customer needs and reduce dependence on overseas logistics.
Why we recommend it: The deployment advantages of pre-terminated solutions and manufacturing integration cases complement each other, providing context for understanding how passive component suppliers expand from FTTH into data centers.
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6262
Ao Li, vice president of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), said the optical communications industry is shifting from being driven by traditional telecom to being driven by AI computing, with next-generation communications networks and optical networks evolving in parallel. He noted that 1.6T is at the early commercialization stage globally, hollow-core fiber is already used for low-latency dedicated lines and cross-domain computing interconnects, and multi-core fiber is entering high-density data center cable scenarios. He expects optical circuit switching systems to form an optoelectronic hybrid architecture with electrical switching, while the relevant technology roadmaps continue to develop in parallel.
Why we recommend it: Comparing high-speed interconnects, hollow-core and multi-core fiber, and optical switching under AI computing demand provides context for understanding the engineering pace of each optical communications pathway.
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6868
Mao Qian noted that control over fiber demand has shifted from carriers to cloud providers, and preform expansion cycles make supply-demand gaps difficult to ease quickly through pricing. A report he released estimates that global optical fiber and cable demand will reach about 630 million fiber-km in 2026, while effective supply will be only 480 million to 520 million fiber-km, leaving a gap of about 110 million to 150 million fiber-km. Preform plant construction takes 18 to 24 months, and product mix shifts combined with supply constraints are pushing the industry from price competition toward value competition.
Why we recommend it: Linking cloud provider demand with preform capacity expansion cycles explains why structural shortages can persist even when nominal capacity is ample, providing a framework for comparing different fiber categories.
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6868
Mao Qian released the 2026 Global Optical Fiber and Cable Industry Development Report, stating that the global market is forming two fragmented systems led by the US and China, while Chinese companies' overseas expansion is shifting from absorbing excess capacity to exporting value. APC data show that Chinese companies' combined global share exceeded 45% in 2026, with North American prices at two to three times the global benchmark. The report forecasts that Chinese companies' share will exceed 50% by 2030, and warns of risks from key raw material supply and a supply-demand reversal after new capacity comes online.
Why we recommend it: The report places trade barriers, overseas capacity and customer lock-in within a single competitive framework, providing context for understanding how Chinese fiber companies are shifting from scale expansion to value export.
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6565
Speaking at the Global Optical Fiber and Cable Conference, Wen Ku said AI, computing power and data centers are reshaping fiber optic cable demand, and urged upstream and downstream players to establish long-term price negotiation mechanisms and expand capacity rationally. He noted that global fiber demand grew 4.1% in 2025, with data communications and data center-related demand up 76%, while expanding optical fiber preform capacity takes two years. Wen Ku warned that high prices could trigger a concentrated release of new capacity, recommending more long-term contracts and navigating price cycles through low-latency, low-loss, high-density technologies and diversified applications.
Why we recommend it: Links AI-driven changes in fiber demand to the preform capacity expansion cycle and price mismatches, providing industry context for why the current boom carries risks of overcapacity.
Oct 15Thu
Thursday
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6767
Shanghai Xihe Technology has released the registration version of its STAR Market IPO prospectus, describing itself as one of the world's major suppliers of silicon photonic integrated chips. Its customers include leading optical module makers and cloud service providers, and its products are already shipping at scale into AI clusters and hyperscale data centers. According to estimates by optical module makers, at the same speed and distance, silicon photonic solutions can reduce total cost by nearly 20% and cut the volume of components within a module by nearly 30%.
Why we recommend it: The source provides cost and volume data for silicon photonics versus discrete components, helping to understand the domestic supply chain for AI data center optical interconnects.
Oct 14Wed
Wednesday
Electro OpticsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6161
Salience Labs, a University of Oxford spinout developing photonic chips for AI data centers, announced GBP 95 million in funding to scale mass production of optical circuit switches and expand its presence in Silicon Valley.
Why we recommend it: The source article explains the positioning of optical circuit switching chips for AI data centers, helping understand where optical switching fits in compute networks
Photonics.comOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6161
Salience Labs, which develops photonic chips for AI data center interconnects, has closed an oversubscribed USD 125 million Series B round. The company previously demonstrated a 64-port all-optical silicon photonic circuit switch at ECOC 2026.
Why we recommend it: The source article links the funding to the 64-port all-optical switch demonstration at ECOC, helping assess the commercial progress of silicon photonic optical switching
optics.org (SPIE Industry News)Optics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6161
UK-based silicon photonics company Salience Labs has closed a USD 125 million Series B round to expand development of optical circuit switch (OCS) technology and ease network bottlenecks in AI data centers.
Why we recommend it: The source article highlights the positioning of optical circuit switching against AI data center bottlenecks, helping understand capital enthusiasm for silicon photonic switching
Oct 13Tue
Tuesday
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score7171
NVIDIA and Cisco jointly announced plans for the USFP (Ultra-Small Form Factor Pluggable) optical module on October 12. This high-density pluggable optical module supports 400Gb/s per lane and targets the scaling needs of next-generation AI factory networks, helping control network complexity, power consumption and cost as connection scale grows.
Why we recommend it: The article explains the motivation behind two leading vendors jointly defining a new package form factor, helping assess the evolution of optical module formats for AI networks
Oct 10Sat
Saturday
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6565
Shenzhen Zhishang Technology announced the signing of a 2027 Demand Forecast Cooperation Memorandum with customer PH. The customer expects to purchase MPO fiber optic patch cords and other fiber optic connectors from the company in 2027, with a forecast target value of $500 million (approximately 3.346 billion yuan). C114 believes optical interconnect demand has expanded from optical modules and optical fiber cables to upstream optical components.
Why we recommend it: The article gives a $500 million connector demand forecast from a single customer, directly showing how AI optical interconnect demand is flowing upstream to components
Oct 9Fri
Friday
Electro OpticsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6969
JEDEC has released the JESD264 standard, setting new certification and reliability requirements for the emerging silicon photonics market. It is the first reliability standard for silicon photonics in AI networks.
Why we recommend it: The article explains that silicon photonic devices now have a dedicated reliability certification standard for the first time, helping understand the threshold for silicon photonics entering large-scale AI network deployment
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6767
Lumentum CEO Michael Hurlston said in an interview in Tokyo that about 70% of demand for some products will remain unmet next year, while other products still face a 30% demand gap through 2028. The company's 2029 capacity is almost fully booked, and it is ramping production at full speed.
Why we recommend it: The article provides specific demand gap percentages, directly reflecting the tightness of laser chips upstream in AI optical communications
Oct 8Thu
Thursday
Laser Focus WorldOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6161
A Laser Focus World article analyzes the surge in industry interest in MicroLED co-packaged optics (CPO) solutions, reflecting their multiple advantages, although technical challenges remain to be resolved.
Why we recommend it: The article reviews the advantages and challenges of MicroLED shifting from displays to optical interconnects, helping assess the maturity of this CPO route
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6565
LightCounting's latest report says growth in the Ethernet optical module market was originally expected to slow in 2026, but data from the first nine months defied expectations: cloud provider capital expenditures accelerated sharply from late January to early February and remained strong over the following six months. The full-year Ethernet optical module market is now forecast to grow 120%.
Why we recommend it: The original article explains that the forecast revision was driven by cloud provider capital expenditures, helping to gauge the scale of AI-driven optical module demand
Sep 30Wed
Wednesday
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6767
AT&T announced a multiyear fiber optic cable supply agreement with Corning worth more than $3 billion in total. Corning will continue delivering fiber and cable for AT&T's home broadband expansion. AT&T said average monthly traffic per fiber user has surpassed 1 TB, five times the 2016 level.
Why we recommend it: The original paper gives the contract value and user traffic growth, helping to understand the scale of fiber demand driven by AI and video
Sep 27Sun
Sunday
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6363
Hengtong Optic-Electric has released a private placement plan to raise up to CNY 6.636 billion for next-generation optical fiber R&D and production, construction of high-end optical new materials in Inner Mongolia, and advanced AI optical interconnect projects. The issuance will target no more than 35 investors.
Why we recommend it: The original article lists the investment directions, helping to understand the optical fiber leader's spending on AI optical interconnect
Sep 23Wed
Wednesday
OFweek Optics Network · NewsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6161
On September 17, Largan Precision spent CNY 1.172 billion to acquire about 2,259 ping of land and 3,695 ping of buildings in Nantun, Taichung. This was its seventh real estate transaction since late June, bringing the total to CNY 8.078 billion. Chairman Lin Enping confirmed in July that the company had received its first fiber array order from a customer, with the land purchases paving the way for mass production in 2027.
Why we recommend it: The original article gives the pace and value of the land purchases, showing the scale of the smartphone lens leader's bet on CPO fiber arrays
Sep 22Tue
Tuesday
C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AIPicksAI score6161
LightCounting's latest quarterly report says NPO dominated much of the discussion at the recent CIOE, much like the industry's enthusiasm for LPO a few years ago. However, sales of retimed pluggable optical modules continue to hit new highs, with Ethernet optical modules accounting for the majority of overall sales.