Snap-Beam, A Compact Multi-Fiber Optical Connector For Photonics Electronics Convergence, Won The Fibre Infrastructure Innovation Award At ECOC2026

Recognition as optical connection technology that will support next-generation CPO infrastructure

Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (Head office: 2-6-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Hideya Moridaira) product Snap-Beam Connector, a compact multi-fiber optical connector for phonics-electronics convergence, won the Fibre Infrastructure Innovation Award out of the ECOC Exhibition Industry Awards 2026 presented at ECOC2026 held in Malaga, Spain in September.

Background
Following the increased use of generative AI, demand is growing for high-speed, high-capacity, low power consumption communications infrastructure for data centers. CPO (Co-Packaged Optics) is a technology that aims to realize high-speed communications and reduced power consumption by placing an optical transceiver adjacent to the large-scale integration (LSI), which includes the switch ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), GPU and other components, and shortening the length of the electrical wiring. Achieving practical use of CPO requires smaller photonics integrated circuit (PIC) and optical fiber, as well as connection technology that is detachable and supports high densities.

Details
Snap-Beam Connector is a compact, easily detachable multi-fiber optical connector developed for CPO and PIC. It utilizes the photonics coupling method with a wider optical pathway using a lens. By achieving automatic connection through the use of a magnet and supporting reflow soldering, our connector aims to realize compact, high density optical connections and installation at hyperscale data centers that use photonics-electronics convergence technology, as well as improve work efficiency during maintenance.

The ECOC Exhibition Industry Awards were established in 2020 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ECOC, and they are awarded to revolutionary technology, products and initiatives with major impact in the optical transmission, network, optical integrated circuits and optical communications fields. At this year’s awards, the connection technology for linking PIC and optical fiber using Snap-Beam Connector was recognized to be an optical connection technology that will support next-generation CPO infrastructure.

Also, an 8x40 channel gang connector using multiple Snap-Beam Connectors was presented during the technology meeting held as part of ECOC2026, and the high-density, multi-fiber connection technology enabling one-touch connection of a 320 fiber count optical fiber suitable for CPO was introduced.

We will continue to develop optical connection solutions leveraging our photonics technology, and contribute to advancing the next-generation communications infrastructure that will support generative AI and hyperscale data centers.

This development is partly based on results obtained from the project, “Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems” (JPNP20017), commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

About Furukawa Electric Group
Leveraging our 4 core technologies of metals, polymers, photonics and high frequency, Furukawa Electric Group operates a wide range of businesses in fields including infrastructure such as telecommunications and energy, automotive systems and electronics. Based on our Purpose of "Composing the core of a brighter world", we strive to solve social issues such as supporting faster optical communications, addressing carbon neutrality and evolving mobility, and contribute to the establishment and development of next-generation infrastructure.