CONTENTS
OPTICAL INNOVATION IN THE AI ERA The surge in AI adoption and the rapid growth of data centres is reshaping the global digital landscape, and optical technology sits firmly at the heart of that transformation. Optical connections have become the silent backbone of the AI era, delivering the bandwidth, latency performance, and scalability that modern intelligence systems demand. As AI models expand in size and complexity, they depend on advanced connectivity infrastructure to move large volumes of data between cloud platforms, hyperscale facilities, and emerging edge environments. In many ways, the future of AI innovation is inseparable from the evolution of optical technology. Without resilient, high performance optical foundations and efficient operational strategies, the promise of AI, real time analytics, and autonomous digital ecosystems would remain out of reach. The Spring 2026 edition of Optical Connections captures that transformation in full. In this issue, we examine whether operators should rethink their reliance on NEM optics for data centre builds, explore the power architecture shifts underpinning AI facilities, and investigate the role of ultra thin fibre as density demands intensify. We also look at the growing role of pre connectorized solutions in accelerating deployment and compare pre terminated versus spliced fibre approaches as operators race to keep pace with soaring capacity requirements. And with so much attention focused on AI and data centres, we also highlight why continued FTTH investment remains essential in delivering our future digital needs. We have two major optical connections events arriving in quick succession, with TOP Conference leading the way and OFC following soon after, with each exploring many of the pivotal themes shaping our industry’s next chapter.
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Industry News
Power, Compute, and Fibre. Lee Myall
10 Ultra-Thin Fibre
Amanda Springmann
14 AI Infrastructure Growth Nathan Tracy 16 Pre‑connectorized Solutions Paulo Campos 18 Reliance on NEM Optics George Ashwin 20 AI Data Centres Tim Doiron 22 Continued FTTH Investment Vincent Garnier 24 Pre-terminated vs. Spliced Thomas H. Ritz 26 The Power Architecture Shift Brad Hawkins 29 OFC2026 Preview 30 FTTH Conference 2026 33 Product News
Brian Dolby Editor, Optical Connections
READ ONLINE/SUBSCRIBE: www.opticalconnectionsnews.com FOLLOW US @opconsnews EDITORIAL : editor@opticalconnectionsnews.com ADVERTISING: sales@opticalconnectionsnews.com DESIGN: Antonio Manuel
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ISSUE 43 | Q1 2026
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