Fiber Connect Council MENA

03/08/2026

Fiber Connect Council MENA Monthly Newsletter - July 2026

Last month we framed fiber as the nervous system of the digital economy and a strategic national asset. The priority now shifts from recognition to precise engineering.

03/08/2026

Understanding Expanded Beam Technology

Fiber networks are no longer confined to clean, controlled environments. They are being deployed on defence and broadcast appilcations, on offshore platforms, and at industrial sites, where dust, dirt, vibration, moisture, and constant handling are part of everyday life. In these conditions, the quality of the connector matters just as much as the quality of the fiber itself.

At Emtelle, working in collaboration with Ridgemount Technologies, we design and manufacture both Physical Contact (PC) and Expanded Beam (EB) connector solutions. While both have a role to play, Expanded Beam, built around Ridgemount’s FBEAM™ alignment technology, delivers the resilience required for harsh-environment applications.



https://fiberconnectmena.org/members-news/understanding-expanded-beam-technology/

03/08/2026

HFCL Limited rolls out OptiQ AI for AI data centres, plans new fibre preform plant.
HFCL Limited is moving to position itself as a larger global supplier to artificial intelligence and hyperscale data centre builders even as it looks at setting up a fibre optic preform manufacturing facility at an investment of Rs 600 crore. The company is also planning to leverage its in-house R&D and advanced manufacturing to build defence-related solutions. The company unveiled its new AI and hyperscale data centre-focused vertical – OptiQ AI -- for its optical connectivity products and outlined fresh manufacturing investments to deepen its supply chain.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hfcl-rolls-out-optiq-ai-for-ai-data-centres-plans-new-fibre-preform-plant/articleshow/132319662.cms

03/08/2026

Overcoming Last-Mile Deployment Challenges with Distributed TAP.

Across EMEA, major strides have been made by operators in connecting homes and businesses with high-speed fibre broadband. These network builds initially focused on dense urban locations and, more recently, have progressed well into rural and ultra-rural areas. Despite this momentum, as these builds mature, operators are increasingly faced with the “awkward” hard-to-connect segments of their networks. In urban areas, these more challenging segments are typically in the middle of exchanges or headend locations. Often, the surrounding areas have already been migrated to FTTH because the network was simpler to complete. Addressing these isolated copper sections can become critical to enable the copper switch-off in that exchange area.

https://fiberconnectmena.org/members-news/overcoming-last-mile-deployment-challenges-with-distributed-tap/

08/07/2026

We are delighted to welcome Kalaam Carrier Solutions to our Platinum Membership community.

With a vision of "Connecting MENA, Simplified," Kalaam Carrier Solutions has established itself as a leading force in the regional wholesale telecommunications ecosystem. Through innovative initiatives such as Kalaam Iraq Transit—providing an alternate route connecting the GCC to Europe via the Red Sea—and Klik, its advanced digital carrier platform, Kalaam continues to redefine transparency, efficiency, and connectivity for the global carrier community.

As the only regional ISP in the GCC with transit licenses in both Kuwait and Iraq, alongside operational licenses in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, Kalaam Carrier Solutions plays a pivotal role in serving telecom carriers, hyperscalers, and large enterprises across the region.

Backed by an impressive infrastructure that includes three cable assets, six data centers, seven global offices, 53 Points of Presence (PoPs), and 80% coverage across the MENA region, Kalaam is uniquely positioned to deliver resilient, high-capacity connectivity and bespoke solutions for mission-critical industries.

We are proud to welcome Kalaam Carrier Solutions as a Platinum Member and look forward to their valuable contributions to our growing community of industry leaders.

Welcome aboard, Kalaam Carrier Solutions! We look forward to a successful partnership.
https://fiberconnectmena.org/membership/list-of-members/platinum/kcs/

08/07/2026

6 Ways to Faster, More Efficient Fiber Broadband Deployment

From reducing workflow touches to integrating documentation into production, here are ways to speed up the fiber deployment process

By Joe Jensen ,Senior Director of Value Creation for Carrier & Enterprise Networks at Corning Optical Communications .

https://fiberconnectmena.org/members-news/6-ways-to-faster-more-efficient-fiber-broadband-deployment/

08/07/2026

Huawei Ranks No. 1 in China’s POL Market for the Seventh Consecutive Year with iFTTO Solution

Huawei has once again secured the No. 1 position in China’s Passive Optical LAN (POL) market for 2025, according to IDC’s latest China POL Market Tracker (2025 H2). This marks seven consecutive years of market leadership, underscoring Huawei’s continued dominance and commitment to advancing POL solutions.

The report provides an in-depth analysis of China’s POL market across four dimensions: technology evolution, vendor competition, industry trends, and product landscape.

https://fiberconnectmena.org/members-news/huawei-ranks-no-1-in-chinas-pol-market-for-the-seventh-consecutive-year-with-iftto-solution/

07/07/2026

We’re delighted to welcome DIL Technology as a Gold Member of the Council!

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in , Kurdistan Region of Iraq, DIL Technology is a leading telecommunications and infrastructure provider delivering secure, reliable, and high-performance solutions across Iraq and beyond.

With extensive fiber infrastructure, international connectivity capabilities, and a strong commitment to digital , DIL Technology plays an important role in advancing resilient and future-ready across the region.

We look forward to their valuable contributions and collaboration within the Council.

learn more about DIL Technology https://fiberconnectmena.org/membership/list-of-members/gold/dil-technology-for-communications/

06/07/2026

How Emtelle UAE is Supporting the Next Phase of Datacentre Growth

The UAE has established itself as one of the world’s most ambitious digital economies. From artificial intelligence and cloud computing to smart cities and advanced industrial applications, the country is investing in technologies that require resilient, scalable, and future-ready digital infrastructure.

As datacentres expand across the region and demand for compute continues to grow, the success of tomorrow’s digital economy will depend not only on the datacentres themselves, but also on the fibre infrastructure that connects and supports them.

Emtelle contributes to this ecosystem through its Global Innovation Centre and Manufacturing Facility in Abu Dhabi’s KEZAD, supplying fibre and ducting solutions across the UAE and wider regions. Working with network operators and infrastructure partners, the company provides passive network solutions designed to support reliable, scalable connectivity within datacentres and across broader digital networks.

https://fiberconnectmena.org/members-news/how-emtelle-uae-is-supporting-the-next-phase-of-datacentre-growth/

06/07/2026

Kalaam Iraq Transit Route: An advanced alternative to the constrained Red Sea routes

Kalaam Iraq Transit is an advanced alternative to constrained Red Sea routes, offering the lowest latency from GCC countries to Europe via a 100% terrestrial path. Launched in partnership with Informatics & Telecommunication Public Company, this route reduces exposure to maritime chokepoints and improves performance, predictability and security for critical data traffic. Tailored for mission-critical sectors like Government, Aviation, Oil & Gas, and BFSI, ensuring resilient, secure, and seamless connectivity.