2024 Roundup: Memorable Milestones and Unforgettable Highlights

As 2025 gets underway, we would like to wish a prosperous, joyful, and rewarding New Year to our valued partners and global AFL associates.

?2024 was a time of standout achievements, heartfelt celebration, and unprecedented growth. From prestigious awards and celebrated publications to our 40th anniversary and beyond, join us in looking back over a truly momentous year.

?Award-worthy Connections

Our Data Center Interconnect (DCI) solution won first place in the Data Center Physical Connectivity Innovation of the Year category at the 2024 DCS Awards. Our entry, titled “AFL Introduces DCI Solutions,” highlighted the standout features of both our connectorized and spliced DCI solutions, including seamless load balancing, centralized resource sharing, and simplified high-speed data transfers across multiple data center facilities.

Held in London, England, the annual ceremony attracts prominent names from the data center industry, with leaders competing for top honors across 39 award categories. The DCS Awards symbolize the highest standards in data center excellence, and our winning entry reflects the resolute, customer-first approach demonstrated by AFL’s global teams.

Central European Expansion

One of the proudest moments in AFL’s history came in the summer of 2024, with the grand opening of our Poland Manufacturing Facility. Located on MDC2 Park, Gliwice, this European expansion incorporates AFL’s sustainability initiatives with the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance policy, while bringing uninterrupted, high-speed connectivity and end-to-end fiber network solutions closer to regional customers.

?The event welcomed prestigious guests Naoki Okada (Director, President and CEO of Fujikura) and Jaxon Lang, (President and CEO of AFL), both of whom gave speeches to mark the momentous occasion.

Fiber-focused Must-reads

2024 witnessed the launch of our AI data center white paper series. The first installment invites readers to explore the critical considerations of modern AI data center infrastructures. Topics include bandwidth, power consumption, control mechanisms, and backend network requirements. This comprehensive analysis delves into the foundations of scalable network architectures essential for next-generation AI and machine learning applications.

Download the white paper: Advanced Networks for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Computing: Scaling Fiber Networks to Meet Tomorrow’s Data Center Demands

Part two of our AI data center white paper series focuses on the future of cutting-edge AI data center scaling solutions, offering expert insight into AI hardware innovation, modular infrastructure design, chip development, system integration, and advanced packaging solutions.

Download the white paper: AI Data Centers: Scaling Up and Scaling Out

40th Celebrations

AFL celebrated its 40th anniversary in style, bringing the team together for a memorable evening. The celebration featured a delectable three-course meal, live entertainment, and inspiring speeches from Martin M. Strasser (Managing Director, Connectivity-EMEA), Alan Keizer (Senior Technical Advisor), and Marc Bolick (President, Product Solutions). The event also served as AFL’s festive get-together, complete with photobooth fun, dancing, and laughter that lasted late into the night.

2024’s abundance of proud moments propels AFL into 2025 with fresh perspectives and an ambitious optimism for the future. To everyone in our global community, thank you for being a part of our journey so far. We look forward to even closer collaborations and greater prosperity in the months ahead.