The Light Connection
The Light Connection (TLC) is a fiber optic cable and tubing manufacturer in Oriskany, NY, serving data center, enterprise, ISP, and industrial customers as an exclusive Corning Optical Fiber channel partner across a 14-acre multi-line facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersOriskany, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Light Connection does
The Light Connection (TLC) is a privately held fiber optic cable and tubing manufacturer founded in 1999 and headquartered on a 14-acre site in Oriskany, New York. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, operates as an exclusive channel partner of Corning Optical Fiber, and produces a complete portfolio of indoor, indoor/outdoor, and micro-distribution cables — Simplex, Duplex, Distribution, Ribbon, Dry Loose Tube, Breakout, and Micro-Distribution — alongside accessories such as furcation tubing, fan-out kits, and breakout kits. TLC's competitive identity centers on termination quality: its Clean-Strip cable design delivers consistent strip force (3.5-5 lbs-f) and the in-house laboratory analyzes termination feedback to iterate product performance, with products meeting NEC Article 770 (OFNR/OFNP), LSZH, and RoHS requirements.
TLC's product surface is oriented toward data center, enterprise indoor plant, industrial/harsh-environment, and outdoor/ISP use cases, with newer offerings — notably the Micro-Distribution 2mm Subunit Cable (up to 30% smaller footprint, 144/288 fiber counts) and braided steel armored fiber (2025) — extending reach into high-density and ruggedized deployments. Manufacturing runs on 12 commissioned extrusion lines as of 2024 with three additional lines slated for 2026 (including a dedicated flat drop cable line), supported by 3 full shifts and weekend overtime.
The business model is B2B hardware sales of specialty cable, priced through a Request-for-Quote system rather than public list pricing, and distributed via a Regional Account Manager sales force covering West Coast, Northeast, Southeast, North/South Central US, and International territories. Order fulfillment draws from a main NY warehouse plus regional warehouses across the United States, and the company supports custom cable fabrication (hybrid cables, custom jacket colors, customer-supplied fiber jacketing) at low minimums — a premium capability beyond commodity replacement cable.
The Light Connection firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Light Connection
- Legal name
- The Light Connection Inc.
- Website
- https://thelightconnection.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The Light Connection (TLC) is a fiber optic cable and tubing manufacturer in Oriskany, NY, serving data center, enterprise, ISP, and industrial customers as an exclusive Corning Optical Fiber channel partner across a 14-acre multi-line facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Light Connection industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fiber Optic Cables
- NAICS
- Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921), Communication and Energy Wire and Cable Manufacturing (33592)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fiber Optic Cabling (Singlemode/Multimode) (HDAFALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable (IMADAMAD)
Keywords
Where The Light Connection is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oriskany
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Light Connection business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fiber Optic Cable Sales: TLC generates revenue through manufacturing and selling fiber optic cables and tubing products. Product range includes OFNR, OFNP, and LSZH cables. Sales are conducted through regional account managers and a Request for Quote system, suggesting B2B enterprise sales motion.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for bulk fiber optic cable |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Light Connection product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Light Connection manufactures fiber optic cables and tubing for data center, enterprise, and outdoor/telecom applications, using Corning Optical Fiber as its core raw material. Its portfolio spans Simplex, Duplex, Distribution, Ribbon, Dry Loose Tube, Breakout, Micro-Distribution, Indoor/Outdoor, and Armor cables, complemented by termination accessories such as Furcation Tubing, Fan-Out Kits, and Breakout Kits. The company differentiates on clean-strip, easy-to-terminate cable designs, custom low-MOQ fabrication, short lead times, and multi-site stock positions.
Product overview
The Light Connection (TLC) is a fiber optic cable manufacturer and channel partner with Corning Optical Fiber. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of fiber optic cable products including Simplex, Duplex, Distribution, Ribbon, Dry Loose Tube, Breakout, and Micro-Distribution cables for data center and indoor/outdoor applications. The product line also includes accessories such as Furcation Tubing, Fan-Out Kits, and Breakout Kits designed for cable termination and protection. Most cables are available with Interlocking Aluminum Armoring (AIA) for enhanced protection. TLC's cables feature OFNR, OFNP, and LSZH ratings with RoHS compliance, using Corning's optical fiber technologies including ClearCurve and SMF-28 Ultra singlemode fibers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Armor Cable Interlocking Armored Cables with spirally wrapped aluminum armor for enhanced crush resistance and ruggedness, available in riser and plenum constructions for indoor and indoor/outdoor applications; aimed at industrial and harsh-environment fiber deployments.
- Breakout Cable 2mm subunits with 900um tight buffers combining strength and flexibility without needing fan-out kits or tubing at termination; offered in 2-12 fiber constructions with plenum and riser ratings for indoor and indoor/outdoor use.
- Distribution Cable General indoor fiber optic distribution cable with 900um color-coded tight buffers, available in OFNR, OFNP, and LSZH constructions; designed for backbone and horizontal indoor runs in enterprise and data center environments.
- Duplex Cable Fiber optic duplex cable designed for general patch cord production with consistency and uniformity; available in 3mm, 2mm, 1.8mm, and 1.6mm OD sizes for fast, efficient terminations.
- Simplex Cable Fiber optic simplex cable designed for general patch cord production with consistency, uniformity, and consistent stripability; available in 3mm, 2mm, 1.8mm, 1.6mm, and 1.2mm OD sizes.
- Indoor/Outdoor Cable Fiber optic cable with a UV-resistant jacket in OFNR or OFNP constructions, featuring 900um color-coded tight buffers for general outdoor and indoor deployment where fire-code flexibility is needed.
- Indoor/Outdoor Dry Loose Tube Cable Gel-free, water-blocked fiber optic cable with UV-resistant black jacket, OFNR or OFNP rated, with color-coded inner tubes containing 2 to 12 fibers for outdoor and indoor/outdoor installations.
- High Density Micro-Distribution Cable High-density fiber optic cable composed of two contrasting color-bound bundles of 12 colored fibers with aramid yarn and PVDF outer jacket; NFPA262 (Plenum) rated and NEC Article 770 compliant for data center and high-density indoor runs.
- Micro-Distribution Cable Fiber optic cable combining high fiber counts with compact design — 2 to 12 colored bare fibers in a 3mm jacket, up to 96 fibers total, in riser and plenum constructions for data center and indoor deployments.
- Micro-Distribution 2mm Subunit Cable Space-saving fiber optic cable with 2mm subunits, offering up to 30% smaller footprint compared to 3mm designs, up to 12 subunits with 12 color-coded fibers, and up to 288 fiber configurations; OFNP rated for data center applications.
- Ribbon Cable Fiber optic ribbon cable compatible with MTP and MPO connectors, available in OFNR, OFNP, and LSZH constructions with standard fiber counts of 4, 6, 8, and 12 (range 2-12).
- Tight Buffer Individual tight buffered fiber optic cables preferred in production environments for ease of stripping; available in 900um, 800um, and 650um buffer sizes in 12 standard colors, matched to existing termination tooling.
- Flat Drop Cable Flat Drop outdoor fiber optic cable (OSP) without gel termination process, available in 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 fiber configurations for between-building and outdoor ISP deployments.
- Jetted (Blown) Fiber Technology Jetted/blown fiber installation technology for micro-distribution cables that uses air pressure to virtually eliminate friction during installation in ducts.
- Braided Steel Flexible Armored Fiber Armored fiber optic cable with braided steel armor offering enhanced crush resistance, lightweight handling, rodent resistance, and improved flexibility compared to traditional interlocking armor; for harsh-environment and industrial deployments.
- Furcation Tubing 2mm, 3mm, and 3.8mm furcation tubing with inner tube surrounded by aramid yarn and PVC jacket, designed for protection and termination of 250um bare fiber and 900um tight buffers.
- Fan-Out Kits Fiber optic fan-out kits designed for quick termination of loose tube products, with clips accepting different tube sizes (ribbon, 2mm, 3mm) and 12 standard color 900um Hytrel tubes.
- Breakout Kits Fiber optic breakout kits for quick and simple termination of 900um distribution cables, with color-coded furcation tubing and improved inner tubes for kink protection.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced termination time and cost through clean-strip cable design (3.5-5 lbs-f pull force)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Light Connection
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Light Connection technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Light Connection partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Corning Optical FibercoreTLC is an esteemed channel partner with Corning Optical Fiber. TLC manufactures a comprehensive range of cables including Simplex, Duplex, Distribution, Ribbon, Dry Loose Tube, Breakout, and Micro-distribution cables, all using Corning's cutting-edge fiber technologies. This partnership has been strong for more than two decades. TLC is an exclusive Channel Partner with Corning Optical Fiber.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Light Connection competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AFL Telecommunications: AFL designs and manufactures fiber optic cable, closures, and connectivity for service providers, enterprise, and data center customers — a comparable specialty fiber cable manufacturer with similar B2B channel dynamics.
- Sumitomo Electric Lightwave: Sumitomo Electric Lightwave manufactures fiber optic cables, ribbons, and connectivity solutions for data center, enterprise, and telecom markets, including high-density and micro-distribution cables — overlapping directly with TLC's data center and enterprise product lines.
- Superior Essex Communications: Superior Essex designs and manufactures fiber optic and copper communications cable for data centers, telcos, and enterprise — overlapping with TLC's indoor/outdoor, distribution, and data center cable lines.
- OFS (Furukawa Electric): OFS is a fiber optic cable and connectivity manufacturer (subsidiary of Furukawa Electric) producing a similar portfolio of indoor, indoor/outdoor, distribution, ribbon, and loose tube cables for data centers, telcos, and enterprise — directly comparable to TLC's product mix and customer base.
Broad incumbents
- CommScope: CommScope offers a broad portfolio of fiber optic cabling, connectivity, and network infrastructure for data centers, enterprise, and telecom — competing with TLC on enterprise indoor fiber and data center cabling, though as part of a much larger solutions portfolio.
- Prysmian Group: Prysmian is the world's largest cable manufacturer with a fiber optic cable portfolio serving telecom and data center customers globally — a broad incumbent that competes with TLC across standard and specialty fiber cable SKUs.
- Panduit: Panduit provides end-to-end network infrastructure including fiber optic cabling systems for data center and enterprise — competing with TLC on enterprise fiber cable SKUs as part of a broader connectivity and cabinet/rack portfolio.
- Belden Inc. Belden manufactures network and fiber optic cabling solutions for enterprise, industrial, and broadcast markets — competing with TLC in enterprise and industrial indoor fiber, though as part of a much broader signal-transmission portfolio.
- Corning Incorporated: Corning is both TLC's exclusive fiber supplier and a global manufacturer of fiber optic cables and connectivity via its Optical Communications segment. As an incumbent, it competes at the high end of the same markets TLC addresses, with substantially greater scale and R&D investment.
Emerging players
- Fiber Instrument Sales: FIS distributes and manufactures fiber optic products including test equipment, connectors, and cable assemblies — overlapping with TLC in the US fiber market and connected to TLC through the new President's prior role there.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Light Connection compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
The Light Connection financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Light Connection leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Light Connection funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Light Connection 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 The Light Connection
What does The Light Connection do?
The Light Connection manufactures fiber optic cables and tubing for data center, enterprise, and outdoor/telecom applications, using Corning Optical Fiber as its core raw material. Its portfolio spans Simplex, Duplex, Distribution, Ribbon, Dry Loose Tube, Breakout, Micro-Distribution, Indoor/Outdoor, and Armor cables, complemented by termination accessories such as Furcation Tubing, Fan-Out Kits, and Breakout Kits. The company differentiates on clean-strip, easy-to-terminate cable designs, custom low-MOQ fabrication, short lead times, and multi-site stock positions.
Is The Light Connection a public or private company?
The Light Connection is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Light Connection founded?
The Light Connection was founded in 1999. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is The Light Connection based?
The Light Connection is headquartered in Oriskany, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Light Connection make money?
One revenue line is on record: fiber Optic Cable Sales.
Who are The Light Connection's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AFL Telecommunications, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, Superior Essex Communications and OFS (Furukawa Electric). Broad incumbents are CommScope, Prysmian Group, Panduit, Belden Inc. and Corning Incorporated. Fiber Instrument Sales is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Light Connection have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Light Connection.
What industry is The Light Connection in?
The Light Connection's product category is Fiber Optic Cables. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAFALAB, Fiber Optic Cabling (Singlemode/Multimode), with a secondary code of IMADAMAD, Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable. Its NAICS code is 335921 and its SIC code is 3576.