Lightera Expands Submarine Fiber Manufacturing Capacity
Lightera announced today a significant capital investment to expand its underwater fiber manufacturing business in Denmark and the United States, in order to strengthen its commitment to meeting the rapidly growing demand for global underwater communication infrastructure. This expansion will nearly triple manufacturing capacity by 2029, ensuring reliable supply for existing customer commitments and future submarine cable projects.
This investment reflects the continued strength of the underwater fiber optic market, driven by accelerated investments in AI infrastructure, hyperscale data centers, cloud computing, and global network expansion. The direct relationship between Lightera and submarine cable manufacturers and large-scale enterprises enables it to gain early insight into future demand and technology trends, as fiber optic cables are typically purchased about a year before cable deployment.
As global bandwidth demand continues to accelerate, the industry will require greater manufacturing capacity and next-generation optical technology, “said Holly Hulse, CEO of Lightera.” This significant expansion reflects our confidence in the long-term future of underwater communications and enables us to provide both simultaneously. This is part of a series of strategic investments made by Lightera in its global manufacturing layout, aimed at expanding capacity, advancing next-generation technology, and supporting long-term customer needs. By expanding production capacity today and preparing for multi-core fiber optics, we ensure that Lightera remains the preferred partner for customers building the next generation of global communication infrastructure.”
The expansion also prepares Lightera for the commercialization of multi-core fiber optics, with initial underwater deployment expected within the 2029-2030 timeframe. This next generation of technology will significantly increase transmission capacity to support future global connectivity.
Lightera’s factories located in Brunby, Denmark and Norcross, Georgia, USA, are the global manufacturing center for the company’s underwater fiber optics, supplying high-performance fiber to some of the world’s most demanding underwater communication networks.
About Lightera
Lightera is a global leader in fiber optic and connectivity solutions. With a deep foundation in the field of optical science, the company provides high-performance solutions to achieve faster, more reliable, and sustainable connections for global enterprises, communities, and industries.
The operational headquarters of Lightera is located in Norcross, Georgia, USA, serving the telecommunications, enterprise, industrial, generative AI, data center, 5G/6G, utility, medical, aerospace, defense, and sensing markets.
Lightera is a part of Furukawa Electric Group. Guhe Electric Group is a pioneer in advancing the next generation of infrastructure through integrated solutions in the fields of connectivity, information, energy, and mobility, committed to creating a safe, peaceful, and sustainable world.