Corning has expanded its data centre connectivity portfolio through a licensing agreement with US Conec, gaining access to PRIZM TMT optical ferrule technology designed to increase fibre density within data centre environments, particularly for AI infrastructure.

The move reflects the growing pressure on data centre operators to handle higher connection densities as AI workloads scale and cluster architectures become more demanding.

The PRIZM TMT ferrule uses expanded-beam technology with precision-aligned microlenses rather than direct fibre contact, an approach intended to improve installation reliability, reduce sensitivity to contamination, and speed deployment.

As AI deployments expand, data centres are rapidly increasing the number of connected accelerators and shifting from traditional copper links to optical connections, driving a need for compact, high-performance connectors within tightly packed server and switch racks.

Mike O'Day, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Corning Optical Communications, said the company is strengthening its ability to deliver 'scalable, fibre-rich solutions' that help customers build 'larger, faster, and more efficient AI clusters.'

The agreement positions Corning to address the connectivity demands that accompany large-scale AI infrastructure build-outs, where high connection density and consistent performance are essential.