What Furukawa Electric does

Lightera is the consolidated optical fiber and connectivity business of Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., formed by combining Furukawa Electric Fiber and Cable, OFS, and Furukawa Electric LatAm under a single global brand. The business manufactures and sells optical fiber cables (aerial, buried, duct, indoor, microduct, drop), optical connectivity infrastructure (MDF/ODF, closures, terminals, pre-terminated assemblies), optical fiber (multimode, single-mode, ocean fiber), copper cabling (CAT.6/CAT.6A), infrastructure (racks, cabinets, patch panels), POL OLT&ONT equipment, and specialty fiber for aerospace, defense, medical, sensing, and high-power laser delivery. Proprietary technologies include InvisiLight® indoor installation systems and hollow-core fiber demonstrated for high-power wavelength-multiplexed PON transmission.

The business serves data centers, telecom operators, industrial networks (manufacturing, mining, oil & gas, automotive), corporate, healthcare, fintech, education, smart cities, energy, medical, sensing, and aerospace/defense customers across more than 90 countries in the Americas, Asia & Oceania, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales across multiple product lines, priced on a quote basis, and distributed via authorized distributors, system integrators, and Key Account Managers operating in regional structures. Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. remains the publicly traded parent on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, providing vertical integration, manufacturing scale, and capital backing that underpins the Lightera business.

The go-to-market is field-sales-driven at the enterprise level, supported by a layered channel of distributors and integration partners that extends reach into mid-market and project-based deployments. The recent consolidation under the Lightera brand, combined with new product entries in POL electronics and hollow-core fiber, signals an intentional shift from a passive-cabling supplier to a broader optical systems and specialty fiber provider.

Name

Furukawa Electric

Legal name

Lightera

Website

https://furukawalatam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Lightera is the consolidated global optical fiber and connectivity business of Furukawa Electric, manufacturing fiber cables, connectivity infrastructure, copper cabling, POL equipment, and specialty fiber. It serves data centers, telecom operators, industrial, medical, and aerospace/defense customers across 90+ countries via distributors, system integrators, and Key Account Managers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical Fiber and Connectivity Infrastructure

NAICS

Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921), Communication and Energy Wire and Cable Manufacturing (33592), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429), Other Communication and Energy Wire Manufacturing (335929)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electronic Connectors (3678)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiber Optic Cabling (Singlemode/Multimode) (HDAFALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable (IMADAMAD), Cable Assemblies & Patch Cords (Copper/Fiber) (HDAFALAF), Connectors, Jacks & Couplers (RJ45/LC/SC/MPO/MTP) (HDAFALAD), Cable Management & Support Systems (Trays/Ladders/Strut) (IMADAMAK)

Keywords

• Optical fiber cables
• Fiber connectivity solutions
• Passive optical LAN
• Submarine cable systems
• Structured cabling

Headquarters

HQ city

Curitiba

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fiber Optic Cable Sales: Sale of physical fiber optic cables including aerial, direct buried, duct, indoor, indoor/outdoor, drop, and microduct variants for various installation environments.
2. Optical Connectivity Products: Sales of optical connectivity solutions including MDF and ODF products, optical closures, terminals, pre-terminated cables, connectors, adapters, and splitters.
3. Optical Fiber Sales: Sale of optical fiber including multimode, single-mode, and specialty ocean fiber for various applications.
4. Infrastructure Equipment: Sales of infrastructure products including racks, cabinets, accessories, unloaded patch panels, and related mounting equipment.
5. Specialty Solutions: Specialized fiber optic cables, optical connectivity, and optical fiber products for aerospace, defense, high power laser delivery, medical, and sensing applications.
6. Copper Network Products: Sales of CAT.6 and CAT.6A copper network cables, connectors, and patch cords for local area networks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Through its Lightera division, Furukawa Electric manufactures and supplies optical fiber cables, passive connectivity products (MDF/ODF, optical closures, InvisiLight solutions), copper network cabling (CAT.6/CAT.6A), active POL OLT and ONT equipment, and specialty solutions including hollow-core fiber for telecom carriers, data centers, enterprise networks, and industrial customers worldwide.

Product overview

Lightera (formerly Furukawa Electric Fiber and Cable, OFS and Furukawa Electric LatAm) offers a comprehensive portfolio of communication infrastructure solutions organized into five core product categories: Optical Networks (fiber optic cables, InvisiLight® Solutions, MDF and ODF distribution frames, optical closures and terminals, optical fiber, and pre-terminated optical cables), Copper Networks (CAT.6 and CAT.6A structured cabling), Infrastructure (accessories, racks, cabinets, and patch panels), Equipment (POL OLT&ONT for Passive Optical LAN), and Specialty Solutions (specialty fiber optic cables, optical connectivity, and optical fiber for demanding applications). The portfolio addresses markets across data centers, industrial networks, communication networks, medical, sensing, telecommunications operators, smart cities/governments, energy, aerospace and defense, and high power laser delivery applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Optical Fiber Cables Core fiber cable product family supplying telecom carriers, data centers, enterprise networks, and industrial customers across global markets.
• InvisiLight Optical Solutions Low-profile, in-building fiber routing solutions designed for discreet optical deployment inside enterprise, hospitality, and multi-dwelling unit environments.
• MDF / ODF Connectivity Solutions Main Distribution Frame and Optical Distribution Frame passive connectivity products used in central offices, data centers, and carrier points of presence.
• Optical Closures Sealed optical splice and terminal closures for outside-plant fiber networks serving telecom and utility customers.
• Copper Network Cabling (CAT.6 / CAT.6A) Copper twisted-pair cabling systems compliant with CAT.6 and CAT.6A standards for enterprise structured cabling, data center, and LAN deployments.
• POL OLT & ONT Equipment Passive Optical LAN active equipment comprising Optical Line Terminals and Optical Network Terminals used to deliver fiber-based LAN services in enterprise and campus environments.
• Specialty Solutions Specialty optical products including hollow-core fiber designed for low-latency, high-capacity, and next-generation industrial and research applications.
• Furukawa Electric LatAm Solutions Regional fiber and connectivity product portfolio serving Latin American telecom operators and enterprise customers via Furukawa Electric LatAm.
• OFS Submarine and Long-Haul Optical Fiber Submarine-grade optical fiber and cable systems inherited from OFS, supporting transoceanic, terrestrial long-haul, and high-capacity backhaul networks for global telecom operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• World's first demonstration of high-power optical signal transmission exceeding 10W in wavelength-multiplexed PON system using hollow-core fibers

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Furukawa Electric Fiber and CablecoreOthersLightera was formed through the consolidation of Furukawa Electric Fiber and Cable, OFS, and Furukawa Electric LatAm operations. The combined entity represents the unified optical fiber and connectivity solutions business.
• OFScoreOthersOFS is now part of Lightera, contributing optical fiber and cable expertise to the consolidated company.
• Furukawa Electric LatAmcoreOthersFurukawa Electric LatAm operations are now unified under the Lightera brand, serving Latin American markets with optical connectivity solutions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Belden: Belden designs and manufactures networking, connectivity, and cable products including fiber optics and copper cabling (CAT.6/6A) for enterprise, data center, and industrial applications. It directly competes with Lightera's copper networks and structured cabling offerings.
• Corning Incorporated: Corning is the global leader in optical fiber and connectivity, manufacturing optical fiber, cable, and connectivity hardware for telecom and data center networks. It is the most direct competitor to Lightera across fiber optic cable, multimode fiber, and optical connectivity.
• CommScope: CommScope provides fiber optic connectivity, structured cabling (including CAT.6/6A copper), and network infrastructure solutions for data centers, enterprise, and telecom. It directly competes with Lightera across optical connectivity products, copper networks, and infrastructure equipment.
• Prysmian Group: Prysmian is one of the world's largest manufacturers of fiber optic and copper cables for telecom and energy infrastructure. It directly competes with Lightera in fiber optic cable for FTTH, data centers, and subsea applications, as well as structured cabling for enterprise networks.
• AFL (Fujikura): AFL, a subsidiary of Fujikura, manufactures fiber optic cable, connectivity, and fusion splicing equipment for telecom, broadband, and specialty applications. It competes with Lightera across fiber optic cable, closures, and fusion splicing solutions globally.
• Nexans: Nexans manufactures fiber optic and copper cables for telecom, data center, and energy infrastructure globally. It is a direct competitor to Lightera in fiber optic cable deployments for telecom operators and enterprise networks across multiple geographies.
• Sumitomo Electric Industries: Sumitomo Electric is a Japanese manufacturer of optical fiber, cables, and connectivity products with global reach. It competes with Lightera in optical fiber, fusion splicing equipment, and specialty fibers for industrial and telecom applications.

Emerging players

• Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (YOFC): YOFC is one of the world's largest fiber optic cable and optical fiber manufacturers, headquartered in China with global expansion. It competes aggressively with Lightera on price in telecom-grade fiber and cable, and increasingly in data center applications.
• Sterlite Technologies: Sterlite Technologies is an Indian global fiber optic cable and connectivity solutions provider. It directly competes with Lightera in FTTH, data center, and telecom operator markets, particularly across emerging markets and Asia.

Broad incumbents

• TE Connectivity: TE Connectivity is a major manufacturer of electronic connectors, including fiber optic connectors, and broader connectivity solutions across industrial, automotive, and communications markets. It competes with Lightera in optical connectors and broader network infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/lightera
• Facebookfacebook.com/lightera
• Pinterestpinterest.com/lightera
• TikToktiktok.com/@lightera
• Xx.com/furukawalatam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Furukawa Electric