Lumentum: Illuminating the Networks of Tomorrow
A message from Rafik Ward, SVP, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Marketing Officer
I am thrilled to share the launch of our newly modernized Lumentum company website. It’s cleaner, faster, and designed to make it easier than ever to explore the products powering the future of AI infrastructure and data center connectivity. This new digital experience reflects not only our technological innovations but also our ongoing commitment to serving customers with cutting-edge photonics solutions.
As we unveil this new online presence, I would like to take a moment to reflect on our ten-year journey — a decade defined by transformation, innovation, and growth. Since our beginnings as part of JDS Uniphase (JDSU), Lumentum has evolved into a global leader in optical communications, industrial lasers, and 3D sensing, enabling the world’s most advanced networks and devices. While there is not enough space here to capture every milestone, I have attempted to highlight a few in the timeline below that remind me of the progress we have made. These events stand as a testament to the dedication and vision of an entire team, many that came before us.
Looking ahead, one thing is certain: the future is photonic, and Lumentum is at the forefront — illuminating the networks of tomorrow and the technologies that will define the next decade and beyond.
We invite you to explore the new site. There is much more to come.
A Decade of Lumentum Milestones
2015 — A New Beginning
Lumentum was officially launched following the spin-off from JDSU, establishing a focused company dedicated to optical communications and commercial lasers. From day one, our purpose was clear: to accelerate the future through photonics innovation.
2016 — Powering Next-Generation Networks
Within our first full year, we strengthened our leadership in optical components for telecom and datacom. Lumentum’s products helped major network providers deploy higher-speed transmission systems — paving the way for today’s 100G and 400G infrastructure.
2017 — Pioneering 3D Sensing
Lumentum’s VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) technology entered volume production for 3D sensing in consumer electronics, powering the first generation of devices with facial recognition and depth sensing. This breakthrough positioned Lumentum as a trusted partner in the emerging world of spatial computing.
2018 — Scaling Manufacturing Footprint
We expanded our manufacturing footprint in advanced laser manufacturing and wafer-fab capabilities through the acquisition of Oclaro. This move strengthened Lumentum’s market position and underscored our role as a key enabler of the world’s growing demand for bandwidth, connectivity, and intelligent optical solutions.
2019 — Strengthening Our Portfolio
The company expanded its product portfolio to meet rising demand for 100G and 400G optical components and coherent solutions powering hyperscale data centers and 5G networks.
2020 — Resilience in a Challenging Year
As the global pandemic reshaped supply chains and workforces, Lumentum remained operational and resilient. Our teams ensured uninterrupted delivery of critical optical and laser technologies that kept data centers, networks, and medical systems communicating — demonstrating the essential nature of photonics.
2021 — Leading in High-Speed Data Center Components
Lumentum accelerated production of its industry-leading 100G EMLs for hyperscale data centers by leveraging its high-volume InP capabilities, enabling higher bit rates with lower power.
2022 — Expanding in Tunable and Coherent Components
Through the acquisition of NeoPhotonics, we added advanced coherent components and InP-enabled solutions for ultra-high bandwidth and low-power applications to our portfolio.
2023 — Expansion into Data Center Market
A landmark year marked by the acquisition of Cloud Light which expanded our position in AI/ML-driven connectivity with cutting-edge optical transceivers and active optical cables.
2024 — Developing the Next Generation
We made significant progress in advancing our Optical Circuit Switch (OCS) platform by refining our MEMS-based architecture to meet the extreme density and performance requirements of large data centers operators. These enhancements set the stage for future large-scale deployment of Lumentum’s OCS solution.
2025 — A Decade of Light, and a Bright Future Ahead
As we celebrate our tenth anniversary, we stand at the forefront of the next era of photonics — where light enables intelligence, connectivity, and sustainability. From AI to data center infrastructure to laser and sensing, Lumentum continues to lead with innovation, integrity, and purpose.