Sterlite Technologies has secured Optical Fiber Nonconductive Plenum (OFNP) US certification for its high-density fiber trunk assemblies, strengthening its position in the AI data center infrastructure market.

Certification and product details

On September 10, 2026, Sterlite Technologies Limited announced that its 48 to 576F Intermittently Bonded Ribbon (IBR) pre-terminated assembly portfolio now holds OFNP US certification. This certification confirms compliance with NFPA 262 standards for indoor cable assemblies, qualifying the products for use in air-handling spaces within buildings.

The certified assemblies are factory-built, with connectors installed, polished, and tested for high performance. This approach eliminates the need for field splicing and specialized equipment, facilitating faster installation and reduced costs for operators.

Market positioning and deployment

The plenum-certified cable assembly portfolio is designed for indoor applications within hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data center containment zones. The cables are optimized for tight routing environments, allowing operators to scale bandwidth within restricted duct spaces without compromising safety compliance.

With this certification, Sterlite Technologies joins global providers of NFPA 262-qualified indoor cable assemblies. The products address the connectivity demands of AI-driven data center buildouts, where fiber infrastructure supports high-speed, high-bandwidth network architectures.

Dr. Badri Gomatom, Chief Technology Officer of the Optical Networking Business at Sterlite Technologies, stated that achieving plenum certification for the indoor IBR cable family reflects the company's engineering excellence. He noted that as AI workloads push data center design boundaries, the physical layer must evolve to meet unprecedented density and safety demands.

Strategic context

The launch underscores Sterlite Technologies' focus on AI-ready digital infrastructure. By offering solutions that meet stringent fire-safety standards applicable to data center deployments, the company targets the growing segment of structured cabling requirements in next-generation facilities.

Sterlite Technologies conducted its investor and analyst meeting on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The company released the recording of the session and an accompanying investor presentation detailing its strategic growth roadmap for FY27 to FY29. Management highlighted that Q1FY27 marked the company's highest-ever quarterly revenue and EBITDA impact.

Growth Roadmap: Lakshya

The company outlined a plan titled 'Lakshya' aiming to rank among the top five global players in optical connectivity solutions. The financial targets under this roadmap are aggressive, seeking to quadruple revenue over the next three fiscal years.

Group CFO Ajay Jhanjhari noted the EBITDA margin improvement represents more than 1,380 basis points. Management highlighted structural shifts in optical demand driven by AI data centers and broadband expansion as key tailwinds. The company noted that AI factories are rewriting data center connectivity stacks, with fiber density per rack increasing from 1,000 in legacy systems to 64,000 in upcoming Vera Rubin architectures.

Capacity Expansion and Capital Allocation

To support this growth, Sterlite Technologies plans to invest ₹1,000 crore annually over the next three fiscal years. This capital expenditure will expand preform, fiber, and cable capacities by 50%. Additionally, the company is establishing a greenfield manufacturing facility in India for pre-terminated connectivity solutions, expected to create over 3,000 jobs for women.

The firm also committed to allocating 2% of annual revenue toward technological innovation, focusing on multi-core fiber (MCF), hollow-core fiber (HCF), and co-packaged optics (CPO). CFO Ajay Jhanjhari stated the company has an open order book of more than $2 billion, providing strong visibility into future opportunities.

Market Context and Risks

Sterlite Technologies emphasized India's emergence as a major AI infrastructure opportunity. India currently has approximately 1.5GW of data center capacity, expected to increase to 10GW by 2030, implying a 46% CAGR. The company holds a 9% global market share in optical fiber cable (excluding China) and operates 10+ advanced manufacturing facilities.

Key risks identified include geopolitical trade policy changes, supply chain resilience for critical materials, and execution excellence in capacity ramp-up. The company stated that continued hyperscaler investment and favorable tariff frameworks are critical assumptions for achieving these targets.

What the Numbers Show

The shift from legacy systems to Vera Rubin architectures involves a 64x increase in fiber content per rack (from 1,000 to 64,000 fibers). This density increase necessitates high-density connectivity solutions, driving the need for the company's new greenfield facility focused on pre-terminated solutions rather than just raw fiber production.

Presentation Availability

The video recording of the meet and the investor presentation are available on the company's website under the 'Announcements' tab and 'Our Growth Roadmap' section.