Fiber Focus

As market demands accelerate data center construction timelines, more and more of the work that once took place on-site is moving to the factory. Senior Manager Product Development and Technical Resources, Greg Pierce returns to Fiber Focus to explain why and what this trend means for the people who build and maintain networks. 

Greg walks through the tradeoffs between pre-connectorized solutions and field splicing, and why very small form factor connectors are tipping the balance toward factory-built solutions. He also brings in a splice cassette for a bit of show-and-tell, breaking down how cassettes segment a dense panel into smaller, protected groups of fibers – simplifying troubleshooting and adding a layer of strain relief. 

It all comes back to a simple idea: in a world that runs on fiber, safeguarding that infrastructure is everything. 

Tune in to the conversation to learn more and join us in Booth G1317 at SCTE TechExpo, from September 29 to October 1, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X.

Episode Links 
Cable Assemblies: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/product/cable-assemblies
Cassettes & Interconnect Panels: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/product-category/data-center-solutions
AI-Ready Connectors: https://blog.sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/ai-ready-connectors-for-facilities-of-any-size
SCTE TechExpo 2026: https://techexpo.scte.org
Greg on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/greg-pierce-4b977b10
Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

What is Fiber Focus?

Fiber Focus is the podcast from Sumitomo Electric Lightwave that explores the technology, tools, and techniques behind modern fiber optic networks. From product innovations to practical insights for data center and on-prem environments, each episode helps industry professionals stay connected to what matters most.