Clearfield Inc., a provider of fiber connectivity solutions for broadband, data center and network infrastructure environments, has launched the NOVA Platform, a modular, high-density fiber ecosystem designed to make building and scaling modern networks more intuitive. The platform is engineered for a range of environments, from large hyperscale and co-location data centers to enterprise campuses and broadband central offices, the company said.
Last August, Dell’Oro Group analysts indicated that demand for 100G and above optics is accelerating and is expected to drive double-digit growth in data center fiber through the end of the decade. “As operators adopt AI-driven designs, fiber counts per rack continue to climb, putting greater pressure on density, space and day-to-day manageability,” Clearfield officials said. “The NOVA Platform is built to address exactly those needs with a product line that scales cleanly in any environment.”
The foundation of the platform is the NOVA Cassette. It’s designed for fast, straightforward installation, incorporates tool-less handling, and keeps technician work at the front of the rack to reduce downtime and simplify operations. Each cassette also includes an integrated designation card paired with a second designation point on the panel, which is intended to give operators clearer, more consistent documentation than traditional high-density systems, officials said.
The cassette pairs with new NOVA Patch Panels, available in 1U, 2U and 4U sizes. A fully loaded 4U panel can support up to 384 LC fibers while still providing clean, direct front-of-rack access for moves, adds and changes. Cassettes can be installed from either the front or rear of the panel, the company said.
“As data centers grow and network designs get more distributed and complex, operators need fiber systems that are simple to deploy and scale,” said Anis Khemakhem, chief commercial officer at Clearfield. “The NOVA Platform is built around that idea. The comprehensive platform delivers solutions from patch panels to cabinets and racks, with tool-less installation and consistent documentation. This empowers operators to streamline training, reduce inventory sprawl, and grow their networks without rethinking their entire approach.”
The NOVA Platform offers seamless integration to help operators keep pace with 100G and 400G growth, rising data workloads and the increasing number of distributed and edge facilities. In addition, its modular design is intended to let teams expand capacity incrementally—whether adding a small cluster in an enterprise closet or supporting an entire row in a hyperscale white space—without changing tools, retraining staff or integrating components from multiple vendors, officials said.
