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Infinera has raised $112.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Infinera.
Infinera has raised $112.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Infinera, based in San Jose, California, manufactures optical networking equipment and solutions for high-speed data transmission in telecommunications networks, specializing in scaling bandwidth and automating network operations. The company provides optical transport network (OTN) systems, software automation solutions, and optical semiconductor components to service providers, cloud operators, and enterprises across more than 100 countries. Serving over 1,000 customers globally, including mobile service providers and internet content providers, Infinera employs 3,470 individuals worldwide. As of October 2024, the organization was negotiating up to $93 million in direct funding, and was recently acquired by Nokia, integrating its products and solutions into Nokia's optical networks division. Founded in 2000, no specific founder names are publicly available. The firm focuses on primary markets include mobile service providers, internet content providers, cloud operators, submarine operators, governments, and enterprises. The company serves more than 1,000 customers globally.
Infinera has raised $112.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Infinera's investors include Sapphire Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures.
Key people at Infinera.
Infinera Corporation was a leading American manufacturer of Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)-based packet optical transmission equipment, specializing in high-capacity optical networking solutions for telecommunications.[3][2] The company built products like automation software, compact modular platforms, optical line systems, packet optical transport, coherent pluggables, embedded optics, optical components, and professional services, serving mobile service providers, internet content providers, cloud operators, submarine operators, governments, and enterprises in over 100 countries.[1][2][3] It solved critical problems in scaling network bandwidth, minimizing cost/space/power, and maximizing service availability amid exploding data demands, with a focus on vertically integrated photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for ultra-high performance up to 800 Gb/s per wavelength.[3][4] Infinera's growth was driven by innovations like the ICE optical engine and Instant Bandwidth, powering agile, open platforms until its acquisition by Nokia for $2.3 billion in June 2024.[3]
Founded in 2000 in Sunnyvale, California (later moving headquarters to San Jose), Infinera pioneered large-scale photonic integrated circuits (PICs), filing over 2,000 patents in optical transport and bandwidth virtualization.[3][4] Key early innovation came from its in-house Optical Integration Center (OIC), which developed the first large-scale PIC, coherent PIC, commercial super-channels, Nyquist subcarriers, and point-to-multipoint coherent technology, enabling monolithic integration of hundreds of optical components for superior efficiency.[3][4] Pivotal moments included launching the 1830 GX Series and ICE engine for multi-haul transport, rapid adoption by Tier 1 carriers, and expansion via acquisitions like Transmode, building a global footprint with fabs in Sunnyvale, packaging in Allentown, and operations in Stockholm.[3][2] This vertically integrated approach—from PIC design to full systems—differentiated it early, culminating in serving over 1,000 customers before Nokia's 2024 acquisition.[2][3]
Infinera stood out in optical networking through vertical integration and innovation:
Infinera rode the explosive growth in data traffic from cloud computing, 5G, video streaming, and AI-driven workloads, providing the optical backbone for Tier 1 carriers, content providers, and enterprises to deliver unlimited bandwidth on demand.[2][5] Its timing was ideal post-2000 fiber boom recovery, leveraging WDM and packet-optical tech amid bandwidth shortages, with market forces like spectrum efficiency demands and multi-vendor interoperability favoring its open, software-defined solutions.[3][4][6] Infinera influenced the ecosystem by popularizing PICs for cost-effective scaling, enabling operators like GTAC in Mexico to expand national fiber networks efficiently, and setting standards for automation that reduced provisioning complexity.[7][5] Post-acquisition by Nokia, its tech bolsters global 6G/edge computing readiness.[3]
Post-Nokia acquisition in 2024, Infinera's PICs, ICE engines, and automation tools will likely integrate into Nokia's portfolio, accelerating innovations in 1.2T+ coherent optics and AI-optimized networks to meet terabit-era demands.[3][6] Trends like edge AI, subsea cables, and sustainable low-power transport will shape its trajectory, potentially evolving Nokia's market share in metro/long-haul while preserving Infinera's "infinite bandwidth" vision for instant, everywhere connectivity.[2][5] This merger positions the combined entity to dominate as data explodes, tying back to Infinera's foundational role in revolutionizing telecom infrastructure.
Infinera has raised $112.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $52.0M Series E in October 2004.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2004 | $52M Series E | — | Sapphire Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures | Announced |
| Aug 1, 2003 | $60M Series D | — | Sutter Hill Ventures | Announced |
