Connect securely with optical networking

Optical networking

Optical connectivity for the AI era

Power the backbone for AI networking with innovations in optical open line systems, transponders, and pluggable coherent optics to connect back-end AI scale-across and front-end DCI/WAN for access, edge, metro, long-haul, and subsea applications.

Overview Resources

Find the optical networking solution for you

Transform the AI backbone with scalable, reliable and power-efficient solutions

Deploy additional fiber capacity with less amplifier power and space with the new Cisco Open Transport 3000 Series multi-rail open line system. Increase scale and efficiency for multi-haul transport with new 12.8T capacity from a 1RU line card that doubles the density for the NCS 1014 pluggable transponder.

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Agile Services Networking

Simplify your network for AI connectivity

Get AI-ready connectivity with an architecture optimized for flexible service deployment and resilient experiences.

Cisco Routed Optical Networking

Discover the benefits of Cisco Routed Optical Networking

Find out how you can reduce network CapEx, energy consumption, footprint, and labor costs in this white paper from ACG Research.

Optical networking

Six key AI/ML applications for optical networking

Enhance the performance and reliability of data transport by leveraging AI and machine learning.

Customer success

Read what leading service providers are accomplishing with Cisco optical networking.

Optical Networking

Lumen Technologies

We’re changing the network architecture and we’re changing the business service to use our own network for direct paths between multiple data centers, multiple clouds, and creating that true multicloud architecture.

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Microsoft

Microsoft delivers 800 Gbps across transatlantic communications cable with Cisco NCS 1014.

NTT West

NTT West and Cisco have successfully completed the world’s first field verification with C+L band coherent pluggable optics over a 60 km distance in Osaka, marking a significant advancement in creating sustainable networks with high capacity and low power consumption.


Cisco optical networking innovations from OFC 2026

Lorenzo Ghioni discusses with Light Reading the Cisco innovations to meet AI capacity demands

Cisco introduces high-density, power-efficient AI scale-across solutions.