Approved Networks
Approved Networks is a brand of Legrand selling OEM-compatible optical networking components—optical transceivers (1G to 800G), DAC/AOC cables, and WDM solutions—to data centers, enterprises, service providers, and AI infrastructure customers across 90+ countries at up to 80% OEM cost savings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersLake Forest, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Approved Networks does
Approved Networks is a privately-held American brand of Legrand, the publicly traded global specialist in electrical and digital infrastructure, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 2009, the company sells optical networking components—principally optical transceivers spanning 1G to 800G across form factors (QSFP-DD, OSFP, QSFP112, QSFP56, QSFP28, QSFP+, SFP28, XFP, SFP+, SFP), direct attached copper (DAC) cables, active optical cables (AOC), passive WDM solutions (CWDM, DWDM, FTTx/PON), and fiber optic and RJ45 cabling—to data centers, enterprises, and telecommunications service providers in 90+ countries. The company is broadening its portfolio to address AI infrastructure, including 800G OSFP/QSFP-DD modules, InfiniBand NDR/HDR/EDR-compatible transceivers, and QSFP/QSFP-DD EDFA amplifiers.
The company's central technical proposition is interoperability at lower cost: products are manufactured using the same Tier 1 suppliers as major OEMs and validated through Approved Test Labs for compliance, performance, and quality of service, enabling a 100% compatibility guarantee with over 100 switches, routers, and server platforms from vendors such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, NVIDIA/Mellanox, and Intel. The OnePort Programmer—a transceiver-programming device—allows customers to configure modules for heterogeneous environments, and all products carry a limited lifetime warranty with a 60-day free evaluation window.
Approved Networks operates a B2B sales-led model with no public e-commerce checkout; pricing is quote-based and conducted via phone (800.590.9535), email ([email protected]), or web quote request for direct customers, plus a dedicated channel partner and reseller program for volume buyers. Marketing is executed through content (blog, case studies, webinars, videos including the YouTube channel @datacenterdude), professional networks (LinkedIn, Twitter/X), and Instagram. Operational claims include 98% on-time and accurate delivery, 90+ country reach, and up to 80% cost savings versus OEM transceiver pricing—a positioning that places Approved Networks squarely in the third-party-compatible optics segment of the market.
Approved Networks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Approved Networks
- Legal name
- Approved Networks, LLC
- Website
- https://approvednetworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Approved Networks is a brand of Legrand selling OEM-compatible optical networking components—optical transceivers (1G to 800G), DAC/AOC cables, and WDM solutions—to data centers, enterprises, service providers, and AI infrastructure customers across 90+ countries at up to 80% OEM cost savings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Approved Networks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Optical Networking Hardware
- NAICS
- Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429), Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921), Other Communication and Energy Wire Manufacturing (335929), Communication and Energy Wire and Cable Manufacturing (33592)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optical Transceivers (SFP/SFP+/SFP28/QSFP/QSFP-DD/OSFP) (HDAFAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Active Optical Cables (AOC) & Optical Interconnects (HDAFAEAG), Copper Transceivers & Direct Attach (RJ45 Modules/DAC Cables) (HDAFAEAF), Cable Assemblies & Patch Cords (Copper/Fiber) (HDAFALAF), Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable (IMADAMAD)
Keywords
Where Approved Networks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lake Forest
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Approved Networks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Optical Transceivers Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling optical transceivers across all speed tiers (1G to 800G) and form factors (QSFP-DD, OSFP, QSFP28, etc.). One-time hardware purchase model with limited lifetime warranty.
- Direct Attached Copper (DAC) Cables: Sales of passive and active copper cables for high-speed connectivity. Includes 800G, 400G, 200G, 100G, 56G, 40G, 25G, and 10G DAC options.
- Active Optical Cables (AOC): Active optical cable solutions for high-speed data transmission across various speed tiers.
- Passive WDM and Fiber Cables: CWDM, DWDM, FTTx/PON passive solutions, single-mode and multi-mode fiber cables, and cable management products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise Direct - Quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Approved Networks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Approved Networks manufactures and sells optical networking components, including optical transceivers (1G to 800G), direct attached copper (DAC) cables, active optical cables (AOC), passive WDM solutions (CWDM, DWDM, FTTx/PON), and fiber optic and RJ45 cabling. Products are built using Tier 1 manufacturers and engineered for compatibility with over 100 OEM switches, routers, and servers, offered at up to 80% savings versus OEM pricing for data centers, enterprises, and service providers.
Product overview
Approved Networks, a brand of Legrand, is a provider of high-performance optical networking solutions for data centers, enterprises, and service providers. The product portfolio centers on optical transceivers (ranging from 1G to 800G with form factors including QSFP-DD, OSFP, QSFP112, QSFP56, QSFP28, QSFP+, SFP28, XFP, SFP+ and SFP), complemented by Direct Attached Copper cables, Active Optical Cables, Active Copper Cables, Passive WDM Solutions (CWDM/DWDM), and comprehensive fiber optic and copper cabling infrastructure. The portfolio also includes the OnePort Programmer for transceiver configuration, Cable Management accessories, EDFA amplifier modules, and InfiniBand-compatible products. All products are designed for 100% OEM compatibility with over 100 networking platforms and are built using Tier 1 manufacturers, with the company claiming up to 80% cost savings compared to OEM pricing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OnePort: A transceiver programmer device for programming optical transceivers
Products and services
- Optical Transceivers
- Direct Attached Copper (DAC) Cables
- Active Optical Cables (AOC)
- Active Copper Cables
- Passive WDM Solutions
- Fiber Optic and RJ45 Cables
- OnePort Programmer
- Cable Management
- QSFP EDFA
- QSFP-DD EDFA
- InfiniBand Products
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 80% cost savings compared to OEM transceiver pricing
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Approved Networks
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Approved Networks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Approved Networks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- LegrandcoreApproved Networks is a brand of Legrand, a global specialist in electrical and digital infrastructure. Legrand designs and manufactures products that deliver and control power, light, and data to customers worldwide. Approved Networks operates as a brand under the Legrand organization, providing optical networking solutions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Approved Networks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Flexoptix: Flexoptix specializes in third-party optical transceivers and is notable for its universal/programmable transceivers that can be reconfigured across vendors — a direct analogue to Approved Networks' OnePort Programmer story. It serves data center, enterprise and carrier customers across EMEA and globally.
- ProLabs: ProLabs is a long-established third-party optical transceiver and cabling vendor offering compatible modules across Cisco, Juniper, Arista and other OEM platforms. It competes directly with Approved Networks on price-per-port, OEM interoperability and warranty terms in the compatible optics market.
- HiFiber: HiFiber is a third-party compatible optics and cabling vendor offering SFP/SFP+/QSFP transceivers, DAC/AOC and MTP/MPO fiber assemblies. It competes directly with Approved Networks on compatible optics pricing and platform breadth across data center and enterprise customers.
- AddOn Network Solutions: AddOn (formerly AddOn Computer Peripherals) is one of the longest-standing third-party compatible optics suppliers, offering transceivers, DAC/AOC and fiber cabling validated against major OEM platforms. It directly competes with Approved Networks in the carrier, enterprise and data center compatible optics segment.
- FS.com: FS.com is a major direct-to-customer supplier of third-party optical transceivers, DAC/AOC cables, fiber cabling and networking equipment. Like Approved Networks, it competes on cost savings versus OEM optics while offering broad multi-vendor compatibility, making it the closest head-to-head competitor in the compatible optics category.
Broad incumbents
- NVIDIA (Mellanox InfiniBand): NVIDIA's networking business (formerly Mellanox) is the dominant OEM in InfiniBand switching and optics for AI/HPC clusters, the same high-growth segment Approved Networks targets with its NDR/HDR/EDR InfiniBand products. It represents both a major channel partner/compatibility target and the most powerful incumbent competitor in the AI optics market.
- Cisco Systems: Cisco is the dominant OEM networking vendor whose branded optical transceivers Approved Networks most directly substitutes. It represents both the reference compatibility target for Approved Networks' products and the incumbent whose high-margin optics attach Approved Networks' 80% cost-savings pitch is designed to disrupt.
- Coherent Corp: Coherent (formerly II-VI) is a vertically integrated optical components and modules manufacturer supplying lasers, transceivers and PICs to OEMs and large cloud customers. It competes with Approved Networks at the high-end 400G/800G/1.6T module tier and represents the upstream supplier/competitor dichotomy in the optics stack.
- Lumentum Holdings: Lumentum is a leading merchant supplier of optical components, lasers and transceiver modules to OEMs, hyperscalers and telecom equipment makers. It competes with Approved Networks in the 400G/800G transceiver market and is a key upstream technology provider in the same end-markets.
Emerging players
- 10Gtek: 10Gtek is a China-based supplier of compatible optical transceivers, DAC/AOC cables and fiber cabling offering aggressive price points in the same SKU categories as Approved Networks. It is an emerging global competitor particularly active on marketplaces and in price-sensitive enterprise and SMB segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Approved Networks social profiles
Digital presenceApproved Networks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Approved Networks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Approved Networks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Approved Networks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Approved Networks
What does Approved Networks do?
Approved Networks manufactures and sells optical networking components, including optical transceivers (1G to 800G), direct attached copper (DAC) cables, active optical cables (AOC), passive WDM solutions (CWDM, DWDM, FTTx/PON), and fiber optic and RJ45 cabling. Products are built using Tier 1 manufacturers and engineered for compatibility with over 100 OEM switches, routers, and servers, offered at up to 80% savings versus OEM pricing for data centers, enterprises, and service providers.
Is Approved Networks a public or private company?
Approved Networks is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Approved Networks founded?
Approved Networks was founded in 2009. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Approved Networks based?
Approved Networks is headquartered in Lake Forest, United States, in the North America region.
How does Approved Networks make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Optical Transceivers Sales are the primary driver. The others are direct Attached Copper (DAC) Cables, active Optical Cables (AOC) and passive WDM and Fiber Cables.
Who are Approved Networks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Flexoptix, ProLabs, HiFiber, AddOn Network Solutions and FS.com. Broad incumbents are NVIDIA (Mellanox InfiniBand), Cisco Systems, Coherent Corp and Lumentum Holdings. 10Gtek is listed as an emerging player.
Does Approved Networks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Approved Networks.
What industry is Approved Networks in?
Approved Networks's product category is Optical Networking Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAFAEAE, Optical Transceivers (SFP/SFP+/SFP28/QSFP/QSFP-DD/OSFP), with a secondary code of HDAFAEAG, Active Optical Cables (AOC) & Optical Interconnects. Its NAICS code is 33429 and its SIC code is 3576.