Infinera
| Company type | Public (until 2024 acquisition) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications equipment |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Drew Perkins, Jagdeep Singh, David Welch |
| Defunct | June 2024 |
| Fate | Acquired by Nokia |
| Headquarters | San Jose , United States |
Area served | Global |
| Products | WDM packet optical transmission systems, photonic integrated circuits, networking hardware and software |
| Parent | Nokia (since 2024) |
Infinera Corporation was a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in vertically integrated WDM packet optical transmission systems, with its headquarters located in San Jose, California. The firm focused on IP transport solutions tailored for telecommunications service providers and was recognized as a trailblazer in the development of large-scale photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
Its portfolio comprised both hardware and software networking products designed for Tier 1 carriers, internet content providers, cable operators, governmental agencies, and enterprise networks.
In June 2024, Nokia completed the acquisition of Infinera for $2.3 billion.
History
Established in 2000 under the name Zepton Networks by Drew Perkins, Jagdeep Singh, and David Welch, Infinera secured its initial funding in April 2001. The company operated in stealth mode until 2004 when it introduced its debut product line centered on indium phosphide-based photonic integrated circuit technology.
Supported by Goldman Sachs, Infinera launched its initial public offering on the Nasdaq exchange in 2007, generating $182 million in capital.
David Welch was honored with the JJ Thomson Medal for Electronics in 2013 in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to optical devices and networking.
In August 2013, Infinera collaborated with DANTE to set a Guinness World Record by provisioning an 8 Tb/s long-haul capacity on the GÉANT network within 19 minutes using Infinera’s DTN-X packet optical transport platform.
In August 2015, Infinera expanded its metro packet-optical networking capabilities by acquiring Transmode, a Stockholm-based company, for roughly $350 million through a combination of cash and stock.
On October 1, 2018, the acquisition of Coriant was finalized by Infinera, establishing it as one of the foremost vertically integrated optical network equipment vendors worldwide.
Nokia’s $2.3 billion cash-and-stock acquisition of Infinera was completed in June 2024.
Technology
As an innovator in large-scale photonic integrated circuits (PICs), Infinera holds more than 2,000 patents related to optical transport and bandwidth virtualization technologies. Its monolithic PIC integration allows embedding hundreds of sophisticated optical components into compact modules capable of delivering up to 800 gigabits per second (Gb/s) per wavelength.
To meet carrier requirements, Infinera provides a 500 Gb/s line card that enables customers to activate bandwidth in increments of 100 Gb/s. This flexible pricing approach is branded as "Cashflow-Efficient Instant Bandwidth" by the company. The technology roadmap envisions line cards scaling beyond 4 terabits per second.
Business strategy
Infinera’s approach centers on deploying cutting-edge transmission speeds beginning at 10 Gb/s and progressing through 100 Gb/s to 500 Gb/s utilizing coherent superchannels—an aggregation of multiple channels. These performance levels are achieved via hybrid multi-layer (3-D) photonic integrated circuits that merge digital and photonic elements.
The company places strong emphasis on real-time bandwidth virtualization within optical transport networks, facilitating swift provisioning without the need for physical hardware changes. This innovation improves operational efficiency and supports agile responses to evolving customer requirements.
Operations
By July 2018, the company managed its own semiconductor fabrication facility located in Sunnyvale, with component assembly taking place in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as well as at the former Transmode site in Stockholm. Infinera internally develops and produces essential elements such as photonic integrated circuits (PICs), ASIC chips, along with hardware and software solutions—including operating systems, management platforms, and software-defined networking (SDN) applications—to improve network virtualization within the optical layer. This comprehensive integration of component creation, product engineering, and system manufacturing characterizes its vertically integrated operational strategy.
In 2019, the company revealed plans to shift its corporate headquarters from Sunnyvale to San Jose, while continuing semiconductor fabrication activities at the Sunnyvale location.
Customers
Infinera's clientele encompasses Tier 1 carriers both domestically and internationally, multiple system operators (MSO)/cable providers, internet content companies, incumbent telecommunications carriers, organizations in research, education, and government sectors, as well as wholesale bandwidth suppliers.