Our 12th annual Lightwave+BTR Innovation Reviews saw technology developers submit products introduced or enhanced since March 2024 in various technology categories for review by our independent judges. In some cases, this resulted in entries for products that debuted at the end of this March at OFC 2025.
Readers will notice something different with this year's award lineup. After merging the former Broadband Technology Report (BTR) with Lightwave last year, the Innovation Awards will now honor innovations in both optical and broadband.
Lightwave+BTR Editor-in-Chief Sean Buckley, as Award Program Manager, assigned each entry to be reviewed by at least three judges knowledgeable in the relevant technology or application. This year, 16 judges from various industry segments, including the vendor community, service providers, and industry analysts, are participating in the awards.
In this special feature, we gathered highlights of our honorees.
For a complete look at all of the 2025 honorees, go to the Lightwave+BTR website and our Innovation Awards section.
AFL's Apex X-1 offers new splice closure options
AFL’s Apex X-1 is a new addition to AFL’s Apex family of sealed splice closures. As a compact sealed dome splice closure, this latest design balances size optimization, supporting up to 144 single fusion, 432 mass fusion with standard ribbon, or 864 mass fusion with “rollable ribbon” fiber types such as AFL’s SpiderWeb Ribbon® (SWR®). The Apex X-1 is ideal for the local small networks and rural FTTx applications.
The X-1 utilizes the same proven technology and design as the Apex X-2, X-2S, X-3, and X-3H; the X-1 offers unique features to reduce installation time, improve organization, and enhance network reliability.
JUDGE'S COMMENT: "This product addresses the density issues in fiber installation. It stands out among its competition."
Fiberstamp Technologies addressses DCI opportunities with its 100G QSFP28 DWDM1 O-Band Silicon Photonics
Fiberstamp's color X 100G QSFP28 DWDM1 O-BAND silicon optical transceivers can address new data center interconnection demands. The company offers color X 100G QSFP28 DWDM1 O-BAND silicon optical transceivers based on a 150Ghz O-BAND DWDM Grid, single-wave 100G PAM4 silicon optical modulation technology platform. The company has integrated silicon photonics technology with traditional advantages to create non-coherent DWDM transmission solutions for 100G data center interconnection (DCI) networks.
A Duplex LC interface is adapted to provide 16 wavelengths for selection to achieve 1600G total bandwidth on SMF dual fiber for DCI interconnection applications. It can also achieve 30km transmission under the support of an SOA optical amplifier (10km transmission without SOA) without the need for a dispersion compensation DCM module. This optical transceiver's power consumption is less than 3.5W. Compared with coherent DWDM, this scheme has the advantages of low cost, low delay, low power consumption and easy deployment.
JUDGE'S COMMENT: "With its Color X 100G QSFP28 DWDM1 O-BAND silicon optical transceiver, Fiberstamp is giving data center operators an alternative method to route 100G traffic."
Fiberstamp Technology moves on 800G with its 8-channel QSFP-DD CWDM8/LR8
Fiberstamp's 8-channel WDM products can transmit 800GE Ethernet using two single-mode optical fibers. The 8-channel wavelength division optical integration products can support 200G QSFP-DD LR8 duplex LC (8x25G NRZ) and 400G QSFP-DD LR8 duplex LC (8x50G PAM4).
JUDGE'S COMMENT: "The product is well-engineered and designed."
Juniper Networks and Elisa Oyj achieve first 800ZR service deployment
In November 2024, Juniper Networks® and Finnish telecom and digital service provider Elisa Oyj, announced they deployed 800 Gbps Ethernet services over 800ZR coherent transceivers in an IP-over-DWDM (IPoDWDM) transformation. Using Juniper Networks™ PTX10002-36QDD Series Router and JCO800 coherent optics, the 800ZR enhanced backbone connection allows Elisa to increase the speed and capacity of its optical fiber and mobile networks in support of the AI and cloudification evolution.
Elisa's 800ZR deployment is based on Juniper's PTX10002-36QDD using early release versions of Juniper Networks JCO800 coherent pluggable optics; 800Gbps, ZR/ZR+ technology, QSFP-DD form-factor. Designed to support standards-based 100G-ZR, 400ZR/ZR+ and 800ZR/ZR+ transceivers, Juniper's PTX10002-36QDD gives operators the flexibility to selectively deploy either lower cost/reach direct-detect optics, or high-performance coherent optics on a port-by-port basis with no density/power limitations.
JUDGES COMMENTS: “Juniper has developed a flexible platform and deployment that allows Elisa to simplify its aggregation network for its fixed and mobile networks.”
POET Technologies: POET Optical Interposer
POET's Wavelight 800G platform allows customers to design 2xFR4 and DR8 modules using the same module board. Wavelight has eight electrical input and output lanes operating at 106.25 Gbps per channel. It consists of two 400G silicon photonics transmitters and one integrated 800G receiver, operating on four ITU-defined CWDM wavelengths. The transceiver is designed for 800-gigabit Ethernet links for up to 2km of reach over single-mode fiber.
POET’s 800G transceiver customers can create 2xFR4 and DR8 products in tandem, which saves assembly time, labor costs, and capital expenses. Wavelight is one of the products built from the proprietary POET Optical Interposer™, a foundational platform technology designed to power AI and network connectivity devices for the hyperscale data center market.
JUDGE'S COMMENT: "A solid product that could support multiple module suppliers to develop competing products, driving volume and lower costs."
SENKO's Detachable PAD system heralds new co-packed optics possibilities
SENKO Advanced Components’ Detachable Precision Alignment Device (PAD) system introduces detachability and compatibility to address optical connectivity for co-packaged optics (CPO) and other high-density photonic systems. The detachability addresses critical challenges in manufacturing, assembly, testing, packaging process, and lifecycle management, offering unmatched flexibility and scalability to customers in Telecom, Data Centers, and HPC environments.
SENKO employs a Precision Alignment Device (PAD) system to achieve the sub-micron alignment required for fiber-to-chip communication. PADs are attached to the chip and the MPC (Metallic PIC Connector) or another fiber connector style. These devices are engineered to interlock precisely, perfectly aligning the optical path. When the PADs align, the optical signal passes freely from the MPC to the photonic integrated circuit (PIC) without significant loss or distortion. This alignment eliminates costly active alignment processes during manufacturing, increasing scalability and reducing costs. 4.5 rating
JUDGE'S COMMENT: "This product aids in manufacturing both CPO and pluggable transceivers."
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave's Transit Tunnel Optical Network Solution creates new urban broadband possibilities
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave's (SEL) Transit Tunnel Optical Networking Solutions will help customers expand their broadband infrastructure and subscriber base in urban areas.
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (SEL) developed its Transit Tunnel Optical Networking Solutions to help customers expand their broadband infrastructure and subscriber base in urban areas. SEL’s solutions overcome the challenges inherent in densely populated last-mile fiber deployments, such as limited space, complex utility layouts, and costly, disruptive surface-level construction.
With SEL’s Transit Tunnel Optical Network Solutions, transit operators can leverage their cities’ often-overlooked, existing tunnel systems to quickly and cost-effectively expand their fiber infrastructure in a weather-protected environment without impacting the flow of city life overhead. Additionally, these solutions offer SEL’s customers an additional path to revenue generation by leasing fiber to underserved areas along the existing transit footprint. With little to no additional deployment time, pathways, or labor, transit operators deploying SEL’s Transit Tunnel Optical Network Solutions can lay "dark fiber" into their existing tunnels and lease strands to local service providers and businesses.
JUDGE'S COMMENT: "An ingenious solution for an environment often overlooked by municipal planners and others."
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave serves up its labor-friendly Lynx-CustomFit™ Splice-On Connecto
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s (SEL) Lynx-CustomFit™ Splice-On Connectors (SOCs) is a labor-friendly solution for low latency, high bandwidth optical networks. The splicer analyzes the fibers before and after the splice, guaranteeing the lowest possible insertion and return loss for a field-installable connector. The process for assembling an SOC is like that of a mechanical connector, so technicians familiar with that process can switch easily.
By using SEL’s Lynx-CustomFit™ SOCs, customers can experience cost savings through reduced labor costs as SOCs do not require preliminary surveys or pre-ordering specific cable lengths. Installations can be custom-made and on-site to fit the needs of an optical network. These exact lengths also save money by cutting potential excess cable lengths.
JUDGE'S COMMENT: "The Lynx-CustomFit cleverly solves workmanship and performance issues associated with optical connectivity."