Adtran plans to showcase optical networking technologies aimed at scaling AI-era infrastructure while managing power draw, operational complexity, and security at OFC 2026 in Los Angeles (March 15–19). The company’s focus spans intra-data center optics, open optical transport, access evolution, and AI-assisted operations.
A key product the company is spotlighting is LiteWave800, an 800 Gbit/s pluggable transceiver for intra-data center links. Adtran puts its operating efficiency at 1 pJ/bit, positioning it as a benchmark for power efficiency at 800G and calling out reduced power and thermal constraints in dense AI fabrics.
That power-per-bit metric is one of the few numbers that matters instantly to data center engineers: 800G optics can shift both front-of-rack thermal design and how much headroom a fabric has before you run into rack-level cooling limits. But efficiency claims like this only become operationally meaningful when they translate into measurable module power and stable behavior across real link budgets and temperatures.
On the network operations side, Adtran will demo REAL AI, which it describes as explainable, AI-driven automation intended to improve visibility, speed issue resolution, and reduce operational complexity.
For security-focused transport, Adtran is featuring the FSP 3000 S-Flex platform with “quantum-safe” optical transport for mission-critical networks. It’s also showing ALM fiber assurance as an in-service monitoring layer aimed at network integrity and detection of physical network intrusion.
Interoperability and open optical transport are also part of the plan. Adtran is participating in OIF multi-vendor interoperability demonstrations, including 100 Gbit/s, 400 Gbit/s, and 800 Gbit/s ZR+ coherent pluggable optics, an FSP 3000 open line system with C- and L-band support, and the Mosaic Network Controller. Adtran’s pluggable optics will also be used in related OIF plugfest activities.
On the access and edge side, the company says it will show access and aggregation systems including 50G PON, along with edge routing technology and automated service-activation platforms.
“As AI workloads scale, network operators and cloud providers need an optical foundation that can keep pace with unprecedented demand for capacity and efficiency,” said Christoph Glingener, CTO of Adtran.
Source: Adtran
