Infinera

Infinera was an American optical networking technology company that developed and supplied equipment, software, and integrated systems for high-capacity communications networks. Its principal market was the optical transport layer used by telecommunications carriers, internet content providers, cable operators, government networks, and large enterprises. The company’s portfolio centered on wavelength-division multiplexing, packet-optical transport, coherent optical transmission, network management, and software-defined control of bandwidth. The company was founded in 2000 as Zepton Networks by Drew Perkins, Jagdeep Singh, and David Welch. It initially operated quietly while developing a technology based on indium phosphide photonic integrated circuits. Infinera’s central technical proposition was that many optical and electronic functions could be integrated into compact, high-performance photonic integrated circuits rather than assembled from numerous discrete components. This approach allowed the company to design systems with high capacity, relatively compact form factors, and rapid service provisioning. Its vertically integrated model extended from photonic integrated circuits and application-specific integrated circuits to hardware, operating software, management systems, and software-defined networking tools. The startup raised its first funding round in 2001 and introduced its first products in 2004. It became a publicly traded company on Nasdaq in 2007, raising $182 million in its initial public offering. During the following decade, Infinera positioned itself around increasingly high optical speeds, moving from early 10-gigabit-per-second systems toward 100-gigabit, 500-gigabit, and later higher-capacity coherent super-channel architectures. Its DTN and DTN-X families became prominent examples of its packet-optical transport approach, while its technology roadmap emphasized scalable capacity per wavelength and flexible allocation of optical bandwidth. Infinera also expanded through acquisitions. In 2015 it acquired Transmode, a Stockholm-based supplier of metro packet-optical systems, adding complementary metro networking capabilities and European operations. In 2018 it acquired Coriant, a larger optical networking supplier, broadening its product portfolio and customer reach in transport, packet networking, and communications infrastructure. These transactions helped Infinera compete across long-haul, metro, data-center interconnection, and service-provider network applications. A distinctive commercial concept associated with Infinera was Cashflow-Efficient Instant Bandwidth. Under this model, a customer could install a line card with substantially more technical capacity than initially required and activate bandwidth in smaller increments as demand developed. The approach was intended to reduce the need for repeated hardware changes while aligning network investment with traffic growth. Infinera also promoted rapid, software-controlled provisioning and optical-layer virtualization, reducing reliance on manual physical reconfiguration. The company operated internationally and maintained manufacturing and development capabilities in the United States and Sweden. Its activities included photonic integrated-circuit fabrication in Sunnyvale, California; component packaging in Allentown, Pennsylvania; and operations inherited from Transmode in Stockholm. In 2019, Infinera announced that its headquarters would move from Sunnyvale to San Jose while its Sunnyvale fabrication activity continued. Nokia agreed to acquire Infinera in 2024 in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion. The acquisition ended Infinera’s status as an independent publicly traded company and brought its optical networking business into Nokia. Accordingly, Infinera is best treated as a former independent corporate brand and technology business whose products, personnel, and capabilities became part of Nokia’s network infr…

Infinera began in 2000 as Zepton Networks, founded by Drew Perkins, Jagdeep Singh, and David Welch. The founders pursued a photonic-integration approach to optical communications, using indium phosphide photonic integrated circuits to combine multiple optical functions in a compact component. The company raised its first funding in April 2001 and remained largely in stealth mode until its first products appeared in 2004. Early development established the technological identity that later distinguished Infinera from suppliers relying more heavily on discrete optical components. The company’s core business was the design and manufacture of wavelength-division multiplexing and packet-optical equipment for communications service providers and other large network operators. Infinera combined photonic integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits, optical hardware, system software, network management, and software-defined networking capabilities. This vertically integrated structure was intended to give the company greater control over performance, capacity scaling, and product development. Its systems were used in long-haul, metro, submarine-related, data-center interconnection, cable, government, and enterprise networking contexts. Infinera became a public company in 2007 through a Nasdaq offering underwritten by Goldman Sachs. The offering raised $182 million. Its commercial strategy emphasized the early introduction of higher optical speeds, progressing from 10-gigabit-per-second systems to 100-gigabit and 500-gigabit coherent super-channel solutions. The company argued that photonic integration could support high throughput while reducing equipment complexity. Its technology was also used to support virtualized optical bandwidth, enabling operators to provision and adjust capacity through software rather than repeatedly changing physical network components. A notable part of the company’s commercial model was Cashflow-Efficient Instant Bandwidth. Customers could deploy hardware capable of higher aggregate capacity and activate bandwidth progressively, allowing network investment to track actual demand. Infinera linked this model to its broader emphasis on flexible optical transport and rapid service activation. Infinera expanded its market presence through acquisitions. In August 2015 it completed the purchase of Transmode, a Swedish provider of metro packet-optical networking systems. The transaction added metro capabilities and expanded the company’s European footprint. In July 2018 Infinera announced an agreement to acquire Coriant, and the acquisition closed on October 1, 2018. Coriant broadened Infinera’s product and customer base across optical transport and adjacent communications technologies. The company continued to maintain a manufacturing and engineering model that included internal photonic integration and systems development. By 2018 it had a fabrication facility in Sunnyvale, California, component-packaging operations in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the former Transmode facility in Stockholm. In 2019 Infinera announced that its headquarters would move from Sunnyvale to San Jose, while the Sunnyvale fabrication operation would continue. Infinera’s technology received recognition during its independent period. In 2013, co-founder David Welch received the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s JJ Thomson Medal for contributions to optical devices and optical networking. The same year, Infinera and DANTE publicized a record-setting GÉANT network provisioning demonstration using the DTN-X platform. Nokia announced and completed the acquisition of Infinera in 2024 for approximately $2.3 billion in cash and stock. The transaction removed Infinera from the public market and ended its existence as an independent company. Its optical networking capabilities thereafter formed part of Nokia’s broader network infrastructure business.

1. 2024Acquisition by Nokia

   Nokia acquired Infinera in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion.

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2. 2019Headquarters relocation announced

   Infinera announced that it would move its headquarters from Sunnyvale to San Jose while continuing to operate its Sunnyvale fabrication facility.

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3. 2018Coriant acquisition closes

   The acquisition of Coriant closed on October 1, 2018.

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4. 2015Transmode acquisition

   Infinera acquired Transmode, strengthening its metro packet-optical networking portfolio.

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5. 2013JJ Thomson Medal recognition

   David Welch received the JJ Thomson Medal for work associated with optical devices and optical networks.

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6. 2013GÉANT capacity-provisioning record

   Infinera and DANTE reported provisioning 8 Tb/s of long-haul capacity across the GÉANT network in 19 minutes and one second.

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7. 2007Nasdaq initial public offering

   Infinera completed its public offering on Nasdaq and raised $182 million.

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8. 2004First products launched

   After a period of largely undisclosed development, the company brought its first products to market.

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9. 2001First funding round

   The startup raised its first reported round of funding while developing its photonic integrated-circuit technology.

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10. 2000Zepton Networks is founded

    Drew Perkins, Jagdeep Singh, and David Welch founded Zepton Networks, the company that became Infinera.

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A technology-led, vertically integrated supplier for high-capacity optical transport and packet-optical networks, emphasizing photonic integration, scalable coherent transmission, flexible bandwidth provisioning, and carrier-grade reliability.

• DTNPacket-optical transport platform

  The DTN family was designed for carrier-grade optical transport and packet networking. It combined optical transmission functions with packet-oriented service handling, allowing operators to carry large volumes of traffic across long-haul and other high-capacity network environments. The platform was part of Infinera’s broader strategy of integrating photonic technology, switching, and management software.

• DTN-XPacket-optical transport platform

  DTN-X was a high-capacity packet-optical transport platform associated with Infinera’s coherent super-channel strategy. It was designed to support dense wavelength-division multiplexing, high-speed optical channels, and flexible traffic transport. The system was used in the GÉANT capacity-provisioning demonstration and represented the company’s effort to combine scalable optical throughput with software-controlled service provisioning.

• XT SeriesOptical networking platform

  The XT Series formed part of Infinera’s optical networking portfolio for high-capacity transport applications. The family addressed the needs of network operators seeking scalable wavelength capacity, coherent transmission, and flexible optical-layer deployment. Specific configurations and use cases varied across the product range and targeted carrier, content-provider, and other infrastructure networks.

• Photonic integrated circuitsOptical semiconductor technology

  Photonic integrated circuits were the technological foundation of Infinera’s product strategy. Using monolithic integration, the company combined numerous optical functions into compact indium phosphide devices. Infinera applied these components to optical transport systems capable of high capacity per wavelength, seeking to improve density, manufacturing efficiency, and network scalability compared with architectures built from many separate optical elements.

• Cashflow-Efficient Instant BandwidthBandwidth activation model

  Cashflow-Efficient Instant Bandwidth was Infinera’s model for deploying line-card capacity in stages. A carrier could purchase hardware with a larger total capability and activate smaller units of bandwidth as demand increased. The approach was intended to reduce repeated equipment replacement, improve the economic timing of network investment, and connect optical capacity activation with real traffic growth.

• 2013GÉANT 8 Tb/s provisioning demonstration

  Europe · Research and education networks

  Infinera and DANTE publicized a demonstration on the GÉANT research and education network in which 8 Tb/s of long-haul capacity was provisioned between Amsterdam and Hamburg using the DTN-X platform.

  Outcome. The partners reported a Guinness World Record for provisioning the capacity in 19 minutes and one second, highlighting rapid optical-network activation.

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• 2024Nokia acquisitionM&A

  Nokia sought to expand and strengthen its optical networking business through the addition of Infinera’s photonic integration, optical transport products, and customer relationships.

  What changed. Nokia acquired Infinera in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion.

  Aftermath. Infinera ceased to operate as an independent publicly traded company and became part of Nokia’s network infrastructure operations.

  Transaction value. $2.3 billion (2024)

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• 2019Move headquarters to San JoseStrategy

  Infinera adjusted its corporate footprint while retaining its Sunnyvale photonic fabrication activity.

  What changed. The company announced that its headquarters would move from Sunnyvale to San Jose.

  Aftermath. The Sunnyvale facility continued to operate as a fabrication site.

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• 2018Acquire CoriantM&A

  Infinera pursued a broader optical networking footprint and additional scale in transport and communications infrastructure.

  What changed. Infinera entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Coriant, and the transaction closed on October 1, 2018.

  Aftermath. Coriant’s assets and business were combined with Infinera, broadening the company’s product and customer reach.

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• 2015Acquire TransmodeM&A

  Infinera sought to expand beyond long-haul optical transport and strengthen its metro packet-optical networking capabilities.

  What changed. It acquired Stockholm-based Transmode in a transaction involving cash and Infinera shares, with an equity value of approximately $350 million.

  Aftermath. The acquisition added Transmode’s metro networking portfolio and European operations to Infinera.

  Approximate equity value. $350 million (2015)

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• 2024Nokia agrees to acquire Infinera

  Nokia acquired Infinera in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion, ending Infinera’s independence as a listed company.

  M&A
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• 2018Infinera agrees to acquire Coriant

  Infinera entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Coriant, expanding its optical transport and communications networking portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2018Infinera completes Coriant acquisition

  The Coriant acquisition closed on October 1, combining the two optical networking businesses.

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• 2015Infinera completes acquisition of Transmode

  Infinera completed its acquisition of Swedish metro packet-optical networking supplier Transmode in a transaction valued at approximately $350 million in equity value.

  M&A
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• 2013Infinera and DANTE announce a high-capacity GÉANT provisioning record

  Using Infinera’s DTN-X packet-optical platform, DANTE and Infinera reported provisioning 8 terabits per second of long-haul capacity on the GÉANT network in 19 minutes and one second.

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• 2007Infinera goes public on Nasdaq

  Infinera completed an initial public offering on Nasdaq, raising $182 million and becoming a publicly traded optical networking company.

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1. Infinera
2. Infinera official website