Optelecom
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications equipment |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | William Culver, Gordon Gould |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Fiber optic communication equipment, laser technologies, communication products for data, video, and audio transmission |
| Parent | TKH Group N.V. |
Optelecom-NKF, Inc. is a United States-based enterprise that specializes in the design, production, and distribution of high-capacity communication solutions, financial market data services, and professional video systems for business applications.
History
Established in 1974 by William Culver and Gordon Gould, Optelecom originally concentrated on developing optical networking technologies utilizing fiber optic cables, optical amplifiers, and laser devices. Currently, the company manufactures fiber optic communication equipment and laser technologies serving both commercial sectors and defense industries.
Prior to founding Optelecom, Culver was employed at IBM's Federal Systems Division, while Gould was affiliated with the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (presently known as the New York University Tandon School of Engineering). Their partnership was driven by the objective to enhance fiber optics technology for missile guidance systems.
The company's product line is founded on Gould's pioneering work in inventing the optical amplifier and laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation). Gould identified early on the significant potential applications of these technologies in telecommunications and radar systems.
In 1983, David R. Huber became part of Optelecom, where he innovated and secured patents for optical amplifiers and multiplexed optical data transmission systems. Optelecom supported Huber as an initial investor in Hydralite, Inc., which was subsequently renamed Ciena Corp. At Ciena's inception, Culver articulated the vision of enabling a “single, hair-thin cable to carry many signals simultaneously” by employing multiple light frequencies, foreseeing this as a future core segment of Optelecom’s operations.
After acquiring NKF Electronics in April 2005, the company adopted the name Optelecom-NKF. The firm produces communication products that transmit data, video, and audio over high-speed Internet connections, Ethernet networks, and fiber optic infrastructures. These products are manufactured within an ISO-9001 certified environment and are supported worldwide through technical experts and distribution partners.
On January 27, 2011, TKH Group N.V., headquartered in Haakbergent, Netherlands, completed its acquisition of Optelecom-NKF.