OCC and Lightera Partner to Boost Data Centre Solutions

Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) and Lightera have announced a strategic collaboration agreement aimed at expanding their combined offering of high-performance connectivity solutions, with a strong focus on enterprise networks and data centre infrastructure.

The partnership brings together two recognised leaders in fibre optic and copper cabling technologies, each with deep-rooted expertise and a shared commitment to innovation.

The collaboration expects to deliver significant value for customers in both sectors, particularly in the Passive Optical LAN (POL) market.

Combining strengths to meet growing demand

OCC, an internationally respected manufacturer of integrated fibre optic and copper connectivity solutions, offers a comprehensive suite of products designed for the most demanding environments.

Its technology portfolio serves a broad range of applications, from enterprise networks and residential installations to harsh environments such as those in the military, mining and industrial sectors.

Lightera, part of the Furukawa Electric Group, complements the offering with its cutting-edge optical fibre and connectivity solutions, which support advanced technologies such as generative AI, 5G/6G and photonics-based sensing.

It has earned its position as a global innovator, known for delivering robust and scalable solutions across the telecommunications, industrial and aerospace markets.

As longstanding partners in the fibre optic industry, OCC and Lightera have collaborated for many years. The new strategic agreement builds on an established relationship between the pair and formalises a deeper alignment, enabling both organisations to serve high-growth sectors with integrated offerings jointly.

Delivering integrated solutions

Under the terms of the agreement, OCC will offer an expanded range of cabling and connectivity solutions that incorporate elements from both companies’ product portfolios. The integrated solutions will be sold by OCC, enhancing its ability to address the rapidly evolving demands of data centre and enterprise customers.

The combined capabilities will enable the partnership to better support network operators, enterprises and service providers in achieving higher performance, improved efficiency and faster deployment of infrastructure.

Lightera has made a financial investment in OCC by acquiring 7.24% of its outstanding common stock, further highlighting its long-term commitment to the collaboration.

Leadership perspectives

Executives from both organisations have expressed optimism about the opportunities presented by the partnership.

Foad Shaikhzadeh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lightera stated: “We recognise the importance of this strategic joint effort with OCC and the potential opportunities it brings to expand Lightera’s presence in the data centre and enterprise Passive Optical LAN sectors.

“Lightera is delivering a comprehensive, next-generation solution purpose-built for the modern data centre—combining advanced edge technology, scalability and performance.

"Our longstanding relationship with OCC, founded on mutual respect and proven product excellence, positions us to meet the growing demands of this critical customer segment jointly.

"We are confident that OCC’s established presence and reputation in key sectors will amplify the impact of our solution and we look forward to building on this partnership.”

Neil Wilkin, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of OCC, added: “We are excited about the opportunities this strategic relationship provides to both companies.

"OCC has successfully collaborated with Lightera (and its predecessor, OFS Fitel, LLC) for decades and we look forward to expanding our valued business partnership as well as continuing our engagement with the Lightera team.

"Importantly, we are confident that our strategic collaboration with Lightera and the resulting Lightera-OCC integrated solutions offered will significantly expand our opportunities in the data centre and enterprise sectors, will accelerate OCC sales growth and will create significant value for OCC and its shareholders.”

A shared vision for the future of network infrastructure

The agreement reflects a shared vision between OCC and Lighterato to deliver high-quality, scalable and future-ready infrastructure solutions to the global market. As network demands continue to grow and data environments become more complex, both companies are well-positioned to support customers with robust, integrated systems that ensure high performance and long-term value.

For the telecommunications industry, the collaboration represents a meaningful step forward in meeting the rising expectations of next-generation connectivity.