Ciena, a global leader in high-speed networking, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Nubis Communications, a privately-held company based in New Providence, New Jersey. This acquisition is set to enhance Ciena’s data center portfolio by integrating Nubis’ high-performance optical and electrical interconnect solutions specifically designed to support AI workloads.
Nubis’ advanced technologies complement Ciena’s existing high-speed interconnect offerings, enabling new capabilities to scale AI infrastructure with higher density and efficiency.
The acquisition brings two critical innovations to Ciena’s portfolio:
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Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) / Near Packaged Optics (NPO): Nubis’ compact, high-density optical modules deliver ultra-fast data transfer through light instead of traditional electrical signals. Supporting up to 6.4 Tb/s full-duplex bandwidth, these modules are optimized for low-latency, low-power operation, making them ideal for scaling AI systems. When combined with Ciena’s high-speed SerDes technology, Nubis’ optical engines facilitate differentiated CPO solutions to meet the high-performance connectivity needs within and between racks.
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Electrical ACC: Nubis’ advanced analog electronics enable Active Copper Cables (ACC) that support high-speed data transmission up to 4 meters at 200 Gb/s per lane. This low-power, low-latency solution allows AI accelerators to connect across racks without the limitations posed by traditional copper or DSP-based systems.
The acquisition also brings significant talent to Ciena, with more than 50 engineers joining the company. These professionals bring deep technical expertise and strong cultural alignment with Ciena’s R&D team, further strengthening Ciena’s capabilities inside the data center.
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“The acquisition of Nubis represents a significant step forward in Ciena’s strategy to address the rapidly growing demand for scalable, high-performance connectivity inside the data center, driven by the explosive growth of AI-related traffic,” said David Rothenstein, Chief Strategy Officer at Ciena. “With ownership of these key technologies for a wider range of use cases inside the data center, we are expanding our competitive advantage by advancing development of differentiated solutions, reducing development costs, and driving long-term efficiency and profitability.”
“The Nubis team is thrilled to join Ciena and enhance its industry-leading portfolio with our breakthrough interconnect technologies,” said Dan Harding, CEO of Nubis. “Together, we will advance Ciena’s data center strategy by delivering reliable, high-quality, and high-performance interconnect solutions to support the next generation of AI workloads.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Ciena will acquire Nubis in an all-cash transaction valued at $270 million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments related to cash, debt, and net working capital at closing. The transaction includes employee retention arrangements and has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and Nubis’ shareholders. The deal is expected to close during Ciena’s fiscal fourth quarter 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.
