Enterprise Network Infrastructure: Design, Performance & Security

How Elevate is redefining data centre infrastructure

It feels like yesterday that Elevate – Future Faster launched at Data Centre World 2025. Since then, the team have been working closely with operators, integrators, and partners to understand where white space designs struggle under pressure, namely: how density is increasing, how airflow and power must evolve, and how programmes need to accelerate without increasing operational risk. Now, as Elevate returns for year two at Data Centre World on Stand B180, it isn’t “new for the sake of new”; it’s a platform that closes the gap between what modern data centres demand and what infrastructure can realistically deliver – more density, more control, and more scale, without complexity creeping in through the back door. Elevate was built as an integrated ecosystem: fibre, racks, aisle containment, power, and security engineered to work together with clean installation, clear labelling, and predictable operation. In its second year, that ecosystem has expanded significantly, with wider choices for high density fibre, more robust airflow strategies, and smarter power and physical security options designed to make scaling easier. Addressing today’s data centre challenges Modern data centres face a familiar set of pressures: rising density, faster change cycles, and tighter operational guardrails. Elevate is designed to help teams keep pace. Densification is no longer optional. Port counts rise, but physical space doesn’t. Elevate’s high-density fibre solutions – VSFF, MPO, and modular ODF architectures – deliver more ports in the same rack unit space while maintaining front access, bend radius control, and clear labelling. The goal isn’t only to fit more, but to manage more. Thermal performance is another sticking point. As loads increase, improvised airflow tactics break down. Elevate’s hot and cold aisle containment is engineered to integrate properly with racks, cable pathways, and power routes. The result is stable airflow separation and higher cooling efficiency across mixed hardware environments. Power, too, needs to evolve. It is no longer enough to energise a rack; operators need visibility, telemetry, and control. Elevate’s high-density intelligent power provides meaningful insight – usage, load, switching – so day two operations become more predictable and less prone to surprises. Deployment speed matters as much as performance. To avoid delays and rework, Elevate prioritises pre-connectorised designs and engineered pathways. Pre-configured fibre assemblies and pre-populated ODF trays reduce on site variability, shorten install windows, and improve “first time right” outcomes. Moreover, as estates grow, clarity becomes critical. Structured labelling, clean patch presentation, and tray level guidance help maintain consistency long after the initial build and far beyond the day one installation. Fast, reliable availability rounds out the approach. Predictable supply chains and standardised configurations help teams maintain design intent and execute programmes without interruption. Advancing the Elevate Platform for 2026 This year, Elevate introduces a number of key additions designed to meet the demands of increasingly dense, increasingly dynamic data centres: 1. VSFF ultra high density pre-connectorised fibre optics deliver far higher port density within standard 1U and 2U panel formats, reducing splicing, test cycles, and deployment time. 2. Hot aisle containment supports facilities optimised around hot air capture and reuse, improving thermal stability as densities rise. 3. High density intelligent power adds the visibility and control required to balance loads, automate switching, and support safe change windows. 4. Intelligent rack locking delivers scalable, auditable access control. 5. High-density ODFs with pre-connectorised trays provide structured, repeatable patching fields with predictable routing and clear documentation. Alongside these additions, the DCR Rack Series, cold aisle containment, and MPO high-density, pre-connectorised solutions return with refinements that make dense builds easier to construct, cool, and maintain. These aren’t isolated features; they’re responses to real operator pressures, helping teams design once, scale confidently, and maintain operational clarity. Experience the Elevate platform at DCW London The most reliable way to evaluate infrastructure is to see the engineering up close. At DCW London, Stand B180, you can explore ODF trays, routing paths, containment interfaces, intelligent power options, and rack level access control, as well as discuss how Elevate can support your growth, densification, or refresh plans for 2026. And while you’re there, enter Elevate’s on-stand competition for a chance to win a pair of Apple AirPods. For more from Elevate, click here.

EXFO launches high fibre count data centre testers

EXFO, a Canadian provider of test, monitoring, and analytics equipment for data centres and telecommunications networks, has introduced a high fibre count data centre testing platform with two new instruments designed for hyperscale and AI infrastructure deployments. The testers will be demonstrated at Data Centre World London 2026 on 4–6 March (Stand B202), alongside a separate showcase at OFC 2026 in Los Angeles on 17–19 March (Booth 523). The release includes two native 24-fibre capable instruments: the FTB-Lite simplex, duplex, and multi-fibre bidirectional certifier, and the PXM/LXM duplex and multi-fibre optical loss test set (OLTS). The equipment is intended to support certification and troubleshooting across large fibre installations in and around data centres. Etienne Gagnon, General Manager Test & Measurement at EXFO, says, “EXFO is trusted by all major hyperscalers to support the accelerated pace of data centre and network builds happening today. “Our high fibre count solution, now reinforced with the only native 24-fibre testers on the market, simplifies testing and enables scaling-up faster to give our customers a competitive advantage as they respond to exponential growth in AI-driven demand.” Testing, certification, and diagnostics The platform supports Tier 1 certification, optical return loss measurement, and Tier 2 troubleshooting across fibre counts up to 24 fibres. Features include automated bidirectional testing, referencing tools, and connector end-face analysis. EXFO says the system is designed to address the increased number of links, connectors, and handling requirements associated with high-density fibre deployments, while reducing the risk of testing errors during large-scale construction projects. For more from EXFO, click here.

AFL: Why data centre leaders are heading to Stand C110

AFL, a manufacturer of fibre optic cables and connectivity equipment, will be attending this year's Data Centre World in London, 4–5 March 2026, exhibiting on Stand C110. In this article, the company tells you about what you can expect: Your AI clusters are hungry for bandwidth. GPU-to-GPU latency is make or break, and you’re being asked to scale yesterday, all while maintaining uptime, managing density, and staying within budget. AFL understands. It has engineered solutions specifically for these problems. What you’ll experience at Stand C110: • Hands-on demos• Industry-first technology• Solutions for your biggest bottlenecks• Modular white space infrastructure you can deploy rapidly• AI-GPU connectivity optimised for ultra-low latency compute fabrics• High-density DCI solutions that maximise available space in cable ducts• Pre-terminated, plug-and-play modules with full traceability to help you deploy faster• Fujikura’s Multi-Core, Hollow-Core, and Mass-Fusion splicers in action – the precision tools that research labs and hyperscalers trust for next-generation fibre deployment• Small-form-factor assemblies – reduce diameter, increase density, maximise airflow and cable pathways• Test with confidence – advanced inspection tools that validate performance before the first packet flows Why AFL for hyperscale data centres? • Globally available — consistent supply chain, wherever you build• Proven reliability — supporting the world’s largest hyperscale networks• Modular and scalable — grow your infrastructure without forklift upgrades• Built for AI workloads — engineered for the bandwidth and latency demands of dense GPU clusters Who should visit the stand? • Network engineers deploying or upgrading DCI links• Data centre architects planning next-generation AI infrastructure• Infrastructure leaders evaluating fibre solutions for hyperscale growth• Operations teams seeking faster commissioning and maintenance workflows Ready to enhance hyperscale efficiency? Bring your toughest connectivity challenges to Stand C110 and see how AFL’s team is already solving the real-world problems you face with innovative solutions ready for immediate global deployment. Find out how its optical fibre experts can help you scale seamlessly across growing hyperscale deployments for AI and cloud. For more from AFL, click here.

LINX to upgrade Lunar Digital data centre into fully resilient PoP

The London Internet Exchange (LINX), an internet exchange point (IXP) operator, is planning to upgrade its presence at the Lunar Digital data centre in Manchester, UK, transitioning the site from a single-homed transmission site to a dual-homed, fully resilient point of presence (PoP). LINX initially went live at Lunar Digital to gauge market demand for an additional PoP at the LINX Manchester interconnection hub. The reportedly strong uptake of services since the September 2024 deployment has now indicated to the company the need for a full, diverse, and resilient presence from the IXP at the facility. Jennifer Holmes, CEO of LINX, comments, “Manchester continues to establish itself as a powerhouse digital hub for the North, and the response and demand for LINX services from networks at Lunar Digital has exceeded our expectations.” Mike Hellers, Product Development Manager for LINX, adds, “Our Manchester LAN has tripled in size over the last couple of years to now enabling 130 networks to access low-latency services and [it] regularly carries more than 900Gbps of traffic at busy periods. “Upgrading Lunar to a resilient PoP ensures existing LINX members and future networks can benefit from enhanced reliability, additional capacity, and greater choice as the regional ecosystem continues to grow.” Manchester as a growing hub Lunar Digital operates three data centres in Manchester with LINX being accessible via a single cross connect from Lunar1 and Lunar2. The announced move underscores the rapid expansion of network operators, cloud platforms, content providers, and digital businesses choosing to colocate in Manchester. “We’re thrilled to deepen our collaboration with LINX,” says Rob Garbutt, CEO of Lunar Digital. “The upgrade to a full PoP reflects not only the growth of Lunar Digital, but the wider demand for robust, high‑performance, low-latency connectivity options across the North of England.” Networks at Lunar Digital will be able to access services at the LINX Manchester internet exchange via a single cross connect. This includes services like peering, private VLANs, Closed User Groups, and the exclusive Microsoft Azure Peering Service (MAPS). The transition work is due to be completed in the coming weeks. For more from LINX, click here.

OpenNebula validated with NVIDIA Spectrum-X

OpenNebula Systems has today announced that its cloud management and virtualisation platform, OpenNebula, has been validated by NVIDIA as an orchestration platform integrated with NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking. OpenNebula is used as a multi-tenant platform for AI factories, providing isolation, governance, and lifecycle management for accelerated infrastructure. The company says the validation supports the deployment of AI-ready cloud infrastructure using Spectrum-X Ethernet. Spectrum-X Ethernet is designed for AI networking environments, where latency, congestion, and jitter can affect large-scale training and multi-tenant inference workloads. OpenNebula now integrates with the networking platform to provide a software-defined cloud environment for AI applications, with multi-tenancy across compute, GPU, and network layers on a shared Spectrum-X Ethernet fabric. Automated orchestration for AI workloads The integration allows OpenNebula to orchestrate tenant provisioning, network configuration, and device attachment through Spectrum-X Ethernet. The OpenNebula control plane also runs on NVIDIA Air, which provides a platform for testing, integration, and validation. Customers can use the environment to evaluate the integration, run simulations, and test automation workflows for AI factory deployments. Ignacio M. Llorente, CEO of OpenNebula Systems, says, “Through our collaboration with NVIDIA, we are extending OpenNebula to support the networking and performance requirements of modern AI infrastructures. "This integration allows customers to manage multi-tenant AI environments where NVIDIA Grace Blackwell and NVIDIA Grace Blackwell Ultra compute and Spectrum-X Ethernet networking are tightly orchestrated and optimised as a single platform.” Amit Katz, VP of Networking at NVIDIA, adds, “OpenNebula’s integration with NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet brings cloud-native agility to the AI Factory, enabling customers to orchestrate multi-tenant accelerated infrastructure with maximum performance and predictability. "NVIDIA Air enables OpenNebula and our ecosystem partners to validate and simulate large-scale AI Factory deployments, giving customers a powerful environment to evaluate and accelerate their AI cloud strategies.” For more from OpenNebula, click here.

Keysight, Point2 collaborate to advance AI interconnects

Keysight Technologies, a manufacturer of electronic test and measurement equipment and software, and interconnects provider Point2 Technology have announced a collaboration to validate next-generation, multi-terabit interconnects intended to address scale-up connectivity constraints in AI and machine learning data centres. The companies are working together to test Point2’s e-Tube interconnect technology using Keysight’s high-speed digital test and measurement platforms. The validation work is focused on meeting the performance and reliability requirements associated with hyperscale AI infrastructure. As AI workloads increase bandwidth demand, hyperscale operators face challenges when scaling xPU clusters. Point2’s e-Tube technology uses RF data transmission over plastic waveguide and is intended to extend reach beyond traditional copper-based interconnects while reducing power consumption and latency. The approach is positioned as an alternative to conventional copper connections within high-density AI systems. Validating multi-terabit performance Keysight is providing validation and characterisation support to assess whether the interconnect technology meets hyperscaler requirements for reliability and signal integrity. The collaboration also enables early research and development work on emerging 3.2T interfaces, supported by high-speed electrical signal generation and advanced real-time and sampling analysis. The testing environment supports the generation and analysis of high-baud-rate PAM4 signals required for terabit-scale data transmission within AI systems. Sean Park, CEO at Point2 Technology, says, “A strategic partnership with Keysight gives us access to world-class engineering tools and support, allowing us to accelerate our e-Tube product development cycles. "The confidence that comes from validating our e-Tube platform using Keysight’s rigorous test equipment is invaluable as we engage with leading hyperscaler customers globally.” Dr Joachim Peerlings, Vice President of Network and Data Centre Solutions at Keysight, adds, “AI scale-up architectures demand disruptive innovation in physical interconnects. Keysight provides the industry’s trusted source of measurement truth, helping innovative partners like Point2 validate technologies quickly and confidently at multi-terabit speeds to achieve their next breakthroughs.” For more from Keysight, click here.

Corning, Meta agree $6bn data centre supply deal

Corning, a US manufacturer of optical fibre for telecommunications and data centres, and US technology company Meta Platforms have today announced a multi-year agreement of up to $6 billion (£4.3 billion) to support the build-out of advanced data centres in the United States. Under the agreement, Corning will supply Meta with optical fibre, cable, and connectivity products to support its data centre and AI infrastructure. As part of the arrangement, Corning will expand manufacturing capacity across its operations in North Carolina, including a major expansion at its optical cable manufacturing facility in Hickory, where Meta will act as an anchor customer. Corning says the agreement will support increased domestic production of optical connectivity technology used in large-scale data centre deployments. Manufacturing expansion and employment impact Wendell P. Weeks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Corning, comments, “This long-term partnership with Meta reflects Corning’s commitment to develop, innovate, and manufacture the critical technologies that power next-generation data centres here in the US. “The investment will expand our manufacturing footprint in North Carolina, support an increase in Corning’s employment levels in the state of 15–20%, and help sustain a highly skilled workforce of more than 5,000 people - including the scientists, engineers, and production teams at two of the world’s largest optical fibre and cable manufacturing facilities. "Together with Meta, we are strengthening domestic supply chains and helping to ensure that advanced data centres are built using US innovation and advanced manufacturing.” Meta says it is continuing to expand its data centre footprint in the US and increase the use of domestically manufactured technology to support its infrastructure requirements. Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta, notes, “Building the most advanced data centres in the US requires world-class partners and American manufacturing. "We are proud to partner with Corning - a company with deep expertise in optical connectivity and a strong commitment to domestic manufacturing - to supply the high-performance fibre optic cables our AI infrastructure requires. "This collaboration will help create well-paid, skilled jobs in the US, strengthen local economies, and help secure the US lead in the global AI race.” The agreement covers the supply of latest-generation optical fibre, cable, and connectivity products designed to meet the density and scale requirements of large AI-focused data centres.

FTTH Council Europe welcomes the DNA

The FTTH Council Europe, a European industry association promoting fibre-optic broadband deployment across Europe, has said it welcomes the Digital Networks Act, as put forward by the European Commission. The mission of the FTTH Council Europe is to see the widespread availability and use of FTTH (Fibre to the Home) in Europe as quickly as possible. It therefore maintains that it is important to ensure that the regulatory framework incentivises investment and fosters effective competition, adding that that these two objectives must remain at the core of any access policy. The FTTH Council Europe positively welcomes the proposal for the switch-off of copper networks. The process, it claims, strikes the right balance between the need to incentivise the take-up of future-proof networks, the necessity to consider national specificities, and avoiding unintended consequences for consumers. The association says it is convinced that copper switch-off is an important driver for investments and that it will positively contribute to the competitiveness of the EU, supporting the digital transition and the enhancement of the Single Market. Therefore, it invites the co-legislators to support the European Commission approach on this topic. The FTTH Council Europe further considers that the current regulatory framework has delivered positive outcomes. It believes maintaining the SMP process in the proposed DNA is central to preserving competition and demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to a stable and predictable regulatory environment, something critical to supporting investors and enabling the continued development of sustainable competition. The Council also notes the proposed harmonised access products but believes that any remedies should start by being tailored to the specific realities of national and market contexts, which can vary significantly between countries and market segments. National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), it propounds, are best positioned to define, where necessary, appropriate SMP obligations that reflect the unique characteristics of their markets. The FTTH Council Europe also acknowledges the provisions on security and resilience in the DNA that recognise the critical importance of communications infrastructure. However, the body invites the co-legislators to make clear that any obligation that may arise should be adequately supported by national and European resources in the next MFF and not create excessive burdens for a sector that is investing heavily in the achievement of the Digital Decade targets. There are other aspects that need refinement, according to the FTTH Council Europe, and there are certain issues where it believes a different approach should be taken, not least regarding the availability of licence-free spectrum for RLAN. The FTTH Council Europe says it looks forward to working constructively with co-legislators to share its insights and experience in refining this proposal.

Fluke Networks launches CertiFiber Max fibre tester

Fluke Networks, a manufacturer of network certification and troubleshooting tools, has launched CertiFiber Max, a third-generation optical loss test set designed for high-density data centre fibre testing. The tester is built on the Versiv platform and integrates with LinkWare software. Fluke Networks states that CertiFiber Max can certify up to 24 fibres in under one second, addressing growing testing demands as fibre density increases in AI- and cloud-driven environments. As data centre architectures evolve, contractors are under pressure to certify more fibres within tighter performance margins. Fluke Networks notes that many existing tools either limit fibre counts or rely on fan-out cables and adapters, increasing testing time and complexity. Designed for high-density fibre certification CertiFiber Max supports 12-, 16-, and 24-fibre MPO connectors, as well as 16- and 24-fibre MMC connectors, using field-replaceable UniPort adapters. These adapters are designed to connect directly to multiple connector types and can be replaced or upgraded on site, extending the working life of the tester. The company says this approach allows technicians to adapt to changing connector standards without replacing test equipment, while also protecting tester ports during use in demanding environments. Vineet Thuvara, Chief Product Officer at Fluke Corporation, comments, “CertiFiber Max reflects our belief that trust in data centre operations starts at the physical layer. Built on the proven Versiv platform, it delivers native 24-fibre support for high-density networks.” As fibre counts continue to rise, the company positions its CertiFiber Max as a tool designed to support both current installations and future requirements, including emerging connector formats such as MMC. Charlie Stroup, Applications Engineering Manager at US Conec, notes, “As MMC deployments continue to expand rapidly, Fluke’s CertiFiber Max plays a critical role in supporting reliable testing for next-generation AI networks.” The system measures optical loss, length, and polarity across multiple fibres in under a second and uses the one-jumper reference method recommended by industry standards and manufacturers. For more from Fluke Networks, click here.

Molex turns infrastructure into advantage

Today’s data centres and enterprises face pressure to move faster, scale seamlessly, and maintain uptime. The network infrastructure beneath it all can’t just keep up; it must lead the way. For over 40 years, Molex has helped organisations rethink structured cabling as a strategic asset. Its 'Enterprise Cabling Infrastructure' delivers scalable copper and fibre systems for buildings across sectors. Its 'Data Center Solutions' extend that reliability to high-density optical fibre environments, enabling faster deployment and effortless growth. With proven global expertise and end-to-end support, Molex turns infrastructure into advantage, backed by a 25-year System Performance and Application Assurance Warranty. What sets Molex apart • Design for what’s next - infrastructure built to handle tomorrow’s requirements • One ecosystem - copper, fibre, and accessories engineered to work seamlessly together • Global reach - technical experts and installers in more than 50 countries • Assured performance - every installation guaranteed for reliability and longevity • Tailored collaboration - custom solutions engineered around you For more from Molex, click here.