The race to rewire hyperscale data centers just picked up more suppliers.
Sanwa Technologies, Hakusan Inc., and US Conec have signed new agreements aimed at strengthening the global supply chain for MMC VSFF (Very Small Form Factor) multi-fiber optical connectors and ferrule components.
The move comes as next-generation data center architectures rapidly migrate away from legacy MPO cabling toward higher-density, performance-optimized connector platforms—most notably MMC.
In short: the AI era needs more fiber, packed tighter than ever.
Why MMC Is Replacing MPO
For years, MPO (multi-fiber push-on) connectors dominated high-density fiber deployments. But hyperscale operators are now pushing for even greater port density, modularity, and flexibility—particularly as 800G and 1.6T networking looms.
MMC (Multi-fiber Mini Connector) is emerging as a preferred successor. Compared to traditional MPO, MMC connectors offer:
- Higher density in the same panel footprint
- Improved optical and mechanical performance
- Greater flexibility for breakout and reconfiguration
- Faster deployment in high-count fiber environments
These advantages matter in modern hyperscale data centers, where AI clusters, GPU fabrics, and disaggregated architectures demand enormous east-west bandwidth.
The shift is also being accelerated by co-packaged optics (CPO) and embedded optical designs, which require ultra-compact, high-density optical I/O both inside equipment and at the front panel.
Who’s Bringing What to the Table
Under the new agreements:
- Sanwa Technologies will expand its MMC VSFF portfolio beyond MDC duplex and MMC adapters to include the full MMC multi-fiber connector embodiment.
- Hakusan Inc. will manufacture and supply its TMT ferrule in both x12 and x16 fiber variants, leveraging more than 35 years of low-loss MT ferrule expertise.
- US Conec, the original developer and licensor of the MMC platform, continues expanding the ecosystem through strategic supply partnerships.
Ferrules are critical to optical connector performance, ensuring precise fiber alignment and minimizing insertion loss. Hakusan’s TMT ferrule production in both 12- and 16-fiber configurations supports the increasing diversity of hyperscale network designs.
The collaboration effectively broadens manufacturing capacity and diversifies the supply base at a time when demand for high-density connectivity is accelerating.
AI Infrastructure Is Driving Optical Density
The backdrop to this partnership is the explosive growth of AI infrastructure.
Training and inference clusters—particularly those built around high-performance GPUs—require dense, low-latency optical interconnects. As bandwidth requirements surge, traditional copper links hit physical limits, pushing more connections onto fiber.
Meanwhile, co-packaged optics is reshaping switch and server designs by bringing optical engines closer to the ASIC. That shift increases internal fiber density requirements and places new demands on compact connector platforms.
MMC’s smaller footprint and modularity align neatly with these trends.
The result: a fast-growing ecosystem that requires not just innovation, but scale.
Strengthening the Supply Chain
One of the challenges with any emerging connectivity standard is ensuring sufficient manufacturing capacity and interoperability across vendors.
By formalizing licensing and supply agreements, the three companies are signaling confidence that MMC has moved beyond niche adoption into mainstream hyperscale deployment.
For hyperscale operators and OEMs, a broader supplier base reduces risk, shortens lead times, and supports multi-source strategies—critical in an industry still wary of supply chain bottlenecks following recent global disruptions.
MMC solutions from the three companies will be showcased at the 2026 Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) Conference in Los Angeles, a key venue where data center connectivity standards often gain momentum.
The Bigger Picture
The partnership underscores a larger industry shift: optical connectivity is no longer a background component. It’s a strategic enabler of AI-scale infrastructure.
As data centers evolve to support AI-native workloads, optical density, modularity, and performance are becoming competitive differentiators.
By expanding the MMC ecosystem, Sanwa, Hakusan, and US Conec are positioning themselves at the center of that transformation—ensuring that as compute scales, the fiber backbone can keep pace.
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