Furukawa Electric Launches Lightera: A New Era for Global Optical Fiber Business
Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. recently announced a significant transition in its global optical fiber cable strategy, unifying all operations under a new brand: Lightera™. This change, set to officially commence on April 1, 2025, during the OFC Conference in San Francisco, California, brings together three of the company's existing divisions—Fiber Cable Division (Japan), OFS Fitel, LLC (OFS), and Furukawa Electric LATAM S.A. (FEL)—into a single cohesive business structure.
Leading this initiative will be Foad Shaikhzadeh, who has been appointed as Chairman and CEO, while Holly Hulse will serve as President and COO. Shaikhzadeh expressed excitement about the unification, stating, "We are thrilled to unite our operations under Lightera, leveraging our global expertise to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth." This rebranding effort is designed to enhance the company's ability to respond to the rapidly evolving needs of diverse industries such as generative AI, data centers, and telecommunications.
A Strategic Move for Future Growth
The formation of Lightera is not just a branding exercise; it reflects a strategic commitment to harnessing advanced optical fiber technology to meet growing global demands. The organization will be structured into four regional divisions, namely NAR (North America Region), LATAM (Latin America), EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), and APAC (Asia-Pacific), supported by eight corporate functions that ensure global coordination and efficiency.
This new structure aims to:
- - Improve synergies and collaboration among regional teams, increasing efficiency and profitability.
- - Strengthen the development of high-performance optical fibers and innovative connectivity solutions.
- - Implement a management system designed for faster decision-making and alignment of strategies across different regions.
- - Expand market reach and contribute towards Furukawa Electric's Vision 2030, which emphasizes sustainability and connectivity.
Illuminating the Future with Lightera
The name Lightera evokes a sense of brightness and clarity associated with light, symbolizing the beginning of a transformative era powered by cutting-edge technology. The design inspiration for the Lightera logo comes from a lighthouse, representing the company’s commitment to navigating industries towards progress through trustworthy optical fiber technology that has been established over many years.
As the world increasingly relies on fast, efficient, and sustainable communication solutions, Lightera aims to provide a diverse range of optical fiber solutions tailored to specific regional needs. Through ongoing investments and technological innovations, Furukawa Electric endeavors to become a dependable partner for customers worldwide, delivering high-value products that significantly contribute to shaping the future of global connectivity.
With the establishment of Lightera, Furukawa Electric is poised to not just keep pace with the rapid advancements in technology but also to lead in driving the next wave of optical innovations that will support the digital transformation of the global landscape.