fiber optics

A New Generation of Ethernet Cables and Connectors

Cat6 and Cat6A cables are serving today’s most demanding high-speed applications. But Cat8 is on the horizon. The early iconic yellow Ethernet cable has a much diminished presence in consumer and business settings, as wireless technologies have become dominant. More than ever, however, the infrastructure underpinning high-speed wireless network activity depends on Ethernet technologies. DataRead More

Hybrid Cable Assemblies With Copper and Fiber Conductors

This week’s Product Roundup highlights hybrid cable assemblies with copper and fiber conductors, as well as hybrid cable-mount connectors with both copper and fiber optic contacts. Hybrid Cable Assemblies With Copper and Fiber Conductors Neutrik’s opticalCON HYBRID MED Connectors are designed to deliver rugged, reliable, and user-friendly connectivity solutions optimized for medical applications including operatingRead More

Will Copper Conductors Hit a Wall?

Optimistic technologists have been predicting fiber optics would replace many copper links since the late 1990s, but designers were able to find ways to extend the bandwidth and reach of copper. Now we may be reaching the point where fiber may finally become the most practical solution in an increasing number of applications. Electrical interconnectsRead More

Robotics Help Medical Providers Improve Care

A new generation of robotic medical equipment is helping medical providers deliver automated care protocols, sterilize facilities, and conduct surgical procedures, as well as reduce risk and improve patient outcomes. Surgical suites and intensive care units are some of the most high-risk work environments within hospitals. It is imperative to clean, disinfect, and sterilize surgicalRead More

2020 Mergers and Acquisitions Reflect the Changing Times

An expanding definition of connectivity drove connector companies to incorporate new areas of expertise via mergers and acquisitions in 2020. In 2020, mergers and acquisitions activities slowed down after the brisk pace of the previous decade, but strategic moves continued, particularly as electronics companies continued to position themselves to support customers in an expanding connectivityRead More

IP68 Medical Connectors Product Roundup

This week’s Product Roundup highlights IP68 medical connectors and cable assemblies from leading suppliers. IP68 Medical Connectors Axon’ Cable designs and manufactures custom cable assemblies and interconnect systems for a wide variety of medical market applications, leveraging its proven expertise in conductor design and manufacturing, composite cables, jacket and tube extrusion, plastic injection molding and overmolding,Read More

A Data-Hungry World is Driving Demand for Wireless Connections

Broadband subscriptions are experiencing exponential growth as global connectivity expands. More users mean more data — and more equipment to deliver it. The most profound change occurring in the technology world is the huge increase in the amount of data that flows through our data communications systems every day. Until recently, we measured this flowRead More

High-Speed I/O Connectors Product Roundup

This week’s Product Roundup highlights high-speed I/O connectors and cable assemblies from leading suppliers. High-Speed I/O Connectors and Cable Assemblies The Ex-El Group provides professional sourcing services and managed manufacturing solutions for high-reliability, harsh-environment electronics applications in the military and commercial aerospace and defense industries and offers a variety of high-reliability, harsh-environment connectivity component solutions,Read More

Mil-Spec Pins and Sockets Directly Contribute to Rugged, Reliable Defense Connectors

Precision-manufactured pins and sockets designed with both MIL specs and applications in mind provide superior reliability and durability in harsh-environment defense applications. These contacts are critical building blocks for military connectors that must perform under pressure on land, at sea, and in the skies above. By Steve Smashey, President, and Mike Conte, General Manager, SOSRead More

Top 12 Technology Trends: PCIe Specification Roadmap Evolves in Tandem With Increasing Bandwidths

A new generation of the PCIe specification is arriving this year, just in time to keep up with the growing demand for data fueled by 5G, cloud computing, AI, and other data-intensive connected technologies. This seventh installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult, a collection of articles that review leading technology trends thatRead More

Co-Packaged Optics Are On the Horizon

A progression of system packaging options provide a roadmap to supporting the high speeds inherent in next-generation equipment. As 112G becomes a reality, co-packaged optics offer the best signal integrity. Since the advent of multigigabit signaling, design engineers have struggled to find ways to minimize the negative effects of conducting high-speed signals through copper tracesRead More

2026 World Connector Market Handbook 2025-2031F
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