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AOI Marks 1 Millionth 1.8GHz Amplifier Shipped, Unveils New Broadband & Optical Product Demos at SCTE TechExpo 2026

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ATLANTA, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SCTE TECHEXPO— AOI (NASDAQ: AAOI), a leading provider of advanced optical and HFC networking products powering AI, today unveiled the demonstrations, new product arrivals, milestone celebrations, and speaker activity it brings to the SCTE TechExpo 2026 in Atlanta, September 29 – October 2.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/aoi/9418951-en-aoi-ships-millionth-amplifier-unveils-new-products-at-scte-techexpo-2026

Under the theme “Network Intelligence. Delivered.,” AOI will host customers and partners at booth #H1448 (Building B) this week with demos spanning its Quantum18® amplifier portfolio, the QuantumLink™ software portfolio for remote network management and predictive maintenance — and the first public showing of the new QuantumWave™ tunable module for standardizing transport optics across the network core, hub and nodes.

A Historic Manufacturing Milestone
Front and center at AOI’s booth will be a fully functioning golden Quantum 18 HGD amplifier display commemorating one of the industry’s most significant hardware milestones: AOI Quantum Bandwidth has shipped its 1 millionth 1.8GHz amplifier.

The milestone reflects more than 25 years of manufacturing innovation. AOI has produced HFC amplifiers since 1997, beginning with the GainMaker platform it built and sold to industry tech vendors for many years as an ODM partner. AOI launched the Quantum Bandwidth brand in 2023, bringing its accumulated manufacturing legacy together with intelligent, predictive software to support autonomous network operations with AI for faster detection and response. With more than 1 million 1.8GHz amplifiers shipped to-date, AOI is the backbone of the broadband plant across the country.

“SCTE TechExpo is where our customers come to see what’s next, and this year we’re bringing proof of the dedicated R&D we have done to deliver on the vision for the future of connectivity,” said Steve Pederson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Broadband Business, AOI. “From a live 3.0GHz network running in the booth to the one-millionth 1.8GHz amplifier we’ve shipped, each element of our presence this year reflects the same commitment: building the intelligent infrastructure that operators need to deliver broadband experiences people can rely on.”

Live at the Booth: How AOI is Helping Customers Expand Spectrum and Manage Intelligent Networks
Front and center is a first-of-its-kind concept demo showing a live downstream operation at 3.0GHz over a coaxial plant, showing the spectrum migration path continuing beyond 1.8 GHz. The demo consists of actual working hardware featuring a 3.0GHz concept amplifier, SC-QAMs, OFDM channels, and a 3.0GHz DOCSIS signal generator.

The live demo walls also feature AOI’s full QuantumLink remote management software platform, running live on actual AOI amplifiers and nodes. Today, the company introduced new AI-driven capabilities within the platform that enable operators to turn visibility into immediate action. New capabilities include:

Self-Optimization
QuantumLink Central’s AI doesn’t stop at finding network issues. It acts on them. When it detects a performance problem, it recommends and applies adjustments that keep the rest of the network stable until a permanent fix is made. Operators stay in control and approve each change before it is applied.AI-Driven Automated Impairment Detection & Localization
Tracking down the source of a network impairment has long been a slow, manual job that often needs technicians in the field. QuantumLink Central uses AI to detect impairments and pinpoint where they are coming from, remotely and automatically. This cuts troubleshooting time and truck rolls.Network Health and Device Health
QuantumLink Central gives operators a clear, real-time view of the health of their whole network. AI-driven health insights help teams quickly see where attention is needed most. They can then prioritize their work and move from reactive troubleshooting to proactive network management.Predictive Maintenance
QuantumLink Central uses AI to spot developing issues before they affect subscribers. It forecasts potential faults and tells operators how confident it is in each forecast and how much lead time they have. Maintenance can then be planned, instead of carried out as an emergency.

“Every hour a field team spends hunting for the source of a network issue, is an hour it isn’t spending on the next upgrade,” said Sahil Yadav, Head of Software and AI for AOI’s Broadband Business. “We built these new AI capabilities in QL Central to take that burden off operators. It gives them a clear view of network health, early warning of developing faults, and automated tools that find and address impairments remotely. It’s a practical step toward autonomous network operations, and we look forward to showing it live at SCTE TechExpo.”

AOI will have its Quantum18 amplifier family on display in multiple configurations, including HGBT, HGD, MB, BLE, Bridge, and GSN Node variants, giving engineers and procurement teams an up-close look at the popular amplifiers powering broadband networks across North America today.

First Look: QuantumWave Tunable Module
SCTE TechExpo 2026 marks the public debut of AOI’s QuantumWave™ 25G Tunable SFP, the newest addition to the Quantum Bandwidth product family. As operators deploy DOCSIS 4.0 and Distributed Access Architectures (DAA), transport links between the CCAP or virtualized core, aggregation hubs, and Remote PHY/Remote MACPHY devices are increasingly outgrowing traditional 10G connectivity. QuantumWave gives operators a cost-effective, compact option for mid-haul and backhaul links. They can deploy at 10G today and turn on 25G when traffic demands it, with no optics swap.

Key Benefits Include:

Dual-mode 10G/25G Operation: Configure for 10G or 25G NRZ in the same hot-pluggable SFP28 module, so capacity can grow without replacing hardware.Simplified Inventory: A narrow-linewidth C-band tunable laser covers 48 DWDM channels (ITU channels 16–63, 100 GHz spacing), so one part number replaces wavelength-specific spares.Extended Reach: Up to 40 km at 25G and up to 80 km at 10G on single-mode fiber, with an APD receiver and CDR with electronic dispersion compensation.Built for the Outside Plant: Operates from -20°C to 85°C with -40°C cold-start support and uses a copper upper cover for heat dissipation.Low Power: Under 4.5W on a single 3.3V supply.

Speaker Session: “The Intelligent 6GHz HFC Network”
Sahil Yadav, Head of Software and AI for AOI’s Broadband Unit, will present on the convergence of extended spectrum and network intelligence. In the session, “The Intelligent 6GHz HFC Network,” panelists will explore what AI-driven operations on today’s 1.8 GHz plant teach us about the road to 3 and 6 GHz, from turning smart amplifier telemetry into predictive insight to building the trust operators need before automation takes over. A must-see session for technology and business leaders, network architects, and operations teams deciding how AI and extended spectrum fit into their network roadmap. Full access pass holders can experience the session on Wednesday, September 30, 12:45 – 2:00 pm on the Convergence stage. Full details here.

New Insights: AOI’s TechExpo Blog Series
AOI published two new blogs as resources for cable operators planning their next network upgrades. In the Q&A blog, “What AI Actually Needs Before It Can Run the Network,” Sahil Yadav, Senior Director of Software Development for AOI’s Broadband Business, explains why accurate telemetry and network visibility, rather than the AI model itself, are the foundation for moving AI from pilots into production, and where operators should start with automation. Read the blog here.

The companion checklist blog, “DOCSIS 4.0 Deployment: Questions Every Operator Should Ask,” covers the key questions operators should answer before replacing amplifiers: which parts of the network to upgrade first, whether passives, power and transport optics are ready, and how remote management can change day-to-day operations. Read the blog here.

Introducing “Hot Topics”
“Hot Topics,” is a new video series out now from AOI that pairs industry VIPs with candid conversation while trying our latest hot & spicy sauces on chicken wings. As each episode unfolds, guests tackle touch questions while working through progressively hotter sauces while they do it. Our debut episode features Mark Bridges, President and CTO of CableLabs getting while covering the technology decisions, operator priorities, and industry shifts defining broadband’s next chapter. Watch the debut episode here.

It’s Here! Season Two of AOI’s ‘Spicy Slice’ Campaign
AOI’s “Spicy Slice” campaign is back and brings the heat with new daring cable industry experts facing new challenges while tasting new hot sauces! Watch the new season here. Come by the booth to try Packet Loss Pete, created for the cautious, and Coaxial Combustion for the most daring, among several other flavors.

New White Paper: Beyond 1.8 GHz: Evaluating Paths to 3.0GHz
AOI has also published a new white paper, “Beyond 1.8 GHz: Evaluating Paths to 3.0 GHz HFC Networks,” to help cable operators plan their next phase of spectrum expansion. The paper gives operators a three-part decision framework covering the engineering constraints, the engineering responses, and the operational and economic factors. Read the whitepaper here.

New Podcast Episode: ‘The Layer 1 Lounge’ in the AOI Studio: ‘Beyond DOCSIS 4.0: Is 3 GHz the Future of Cable Networks?’
The cable industry is deep into DOCSIS 4.0 deployments at 1.8 GHz, so why are engineers already talking about 3 GHz? In this Podcast episode, AOI’s Corey Chapman, Head of Product Management for AOI’s Broadband Business, breaks down what it actually takes to push HFC networks to 3.0GHz: the physics of signal loss, amplifier architecture tradeoffs, energy efficiency constraints, and the industry consensus still being built. View the Podcast here.

Additional Resources:

AOI Quantum BandwidthAOI HFC AmplifiersQuantumLinkQuantumWaveAOI NewsroomAOI Studio

About AOI
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical and HFC networking products that are the building blocks for AI datacenters, CATV and broadband fiber access networks around the world. AOI supplies this critical infrastructure to tier-one customers across cloud computing, CATV broadband, telecom, and FTTH markets. The company has R&D facilities in Atlanta, GA, and engineering and manufacturing facilities at its corporate headquarters in Sugar Land, TX, as well as in Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China. For additional information, visit www.ao-inc.com

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.

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New Treasure Hunt Series Offers $1 Million Grand Prize

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SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Krypto Chase today announced the launch of an ambitious nationwide treasure hunt competition that will span all 50 states, beginning with Utah. The series will award a $5,000 prize in each qualifying hunt before culminating in a national championship where one finalist will win a $1,000,000 grand prize.

The first qualifying event will take place along Utah’s Wasatch Front. Participants will solve a series of cryptic clues that lead them to real-world locations using the Skavengerz mobile app. The first competitor to successfully complete the hunt will receive the $5,000 prize, payable in either Bitcoin or cash, and advance to the Krypto Chase National Championship with a chance to win the $1,000,000 prize.

“Our vision is to create an experience that challenges people to think, explore, and discover new places and new adventures while competing for meaningful prizes,” said Jeremy Lyman, founder of Krypto Chase. “Whether you’re an experienced puzzle solver, an outdoor adventurer, or someone looking for an unforgettable weekend experience, Krypto Chase offers a unique opportunity to compete for life-changing prizes.”

Unlike traditional treasure hunts that rely on printed clues or social media posts, Krypto Chase combines cryptography, GPS technology, and real-world exploration to create an interactive, competitive adventure. Throughout each hunt, participants will receive clues, navigate to hidden locations, and verify their progress through GPS technology built into the Skavengerz platform.

The competition is powered by Skavengerz, a location-based adventure platform that enables organizations to create interactive real-world experiences using GPS, QR codes, trivia, and digital checkpoints.

“We built Skavengerz to inspire people to get off the couch and explore the real world,” said Nate Alder, CEO of Skavengerz. “Partnering with Krypto Chase demonstrates how our technology can transform treasure hunting into an exciting, large-scale experience that combines adventure, technology, and friendly competition.”

The date of the Utah qualifier will be announced after the first 200 participants have registered. Hunts are expected to begin on a Friday morning, with clues released through the Skavengerz app, and conclude no later than Sunday evening when the winner is confirmed. Registration for each qualifier hunt is limited to 5,000 participants.

Additional competitions in other states will be announced as registration milestones are reached.

Although participation in the Skavengerz app is free, competitors in the Krypto Chase treasure hunt who wish to qualify for the $5,000 prize and the $1 million national championship must purchase an official Krypto Chase ticket at www.kryptochase.com.

Registration is now open at www.kryptochase.com.

About Krypto Chase

Krypto Chase organizes real-world treasure hunting competitions that combine puzzle solving, navigation, cryptography, and technology into immersive outdoor adventures. Beginning with 50+ qualifying events and culminating in a national championship, Krypto Chase offers participants the opportunity to compete for significant prizes while exploring remarkable locations across the United States.

About Skavengerz

Skavengerz is a location-based adventure platform that helps destinations, tourism organizations, businesses, and event organizers create interactive real-world experiences through GPS challenges, scavenger hunts, trivia, QR codes, and gamified exploration. The platform encourages people to discover communities, attractions, and local businesses through engaging mobile adventures. App demo video click here

Media Kit

For additional media updates click here

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-treasure-hunt-series-offers-1-million-grand-prize-302901997.html

SOURCE Krypto Chase

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World Micro Highlights Flexxon Long-Lifecycle, Radiation-Hardened Storage Solutions for Aerospace & Defense

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Supporting long-life programs with fixed-BOM storage solutions designed for demanding aerospace and space environments

ROSWELL, Ga., Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — World Micro, a global distributor of electronic components and supply chain solutions, is highlighting its relationship with Flexxon and the company’s specialized storage portfolio designed to address a growing challenge across the aerospace and defense industry: maintaining reliable storage technology throughout programs that may remain in service for decades.

As major semiconductor manufacturers continue transitioning away from legacy NAND technologies, aerospace and defense manufacturers face a fundamentally different challenge than commercial electronics companies. Platforms with 10, 15 or 20-year lifecycles cannot simply redesign every time a storage component reaches end-of-life.

Through its relationship with Flexxon, World Micro can help customers address this challenge with storage solutions designed around long-term availability, fixed-BOM support and continued production of legacy formats. Aerospace and defense organizations evaluating NAND obsolescence, upcoming redesigns or long-term storage requirements are encouraged to engage World Micro early to explore available Flexxon solutions.

“For aerospace and defense customers, component availability isn’t simply a procurement issue—it can become a program continuity issue,” said Vladimir Prevot, VP of Supply Chain. “Our relationship with Flexxon gives us another way to help customers plan around obsolescence and support platforms with lifecycles that extend far beyond those of typical commercial electronics.”

Storage Designed for Long-Life Aerospace Programs

Flexxon’s approach to product longevity is particularly relevant to aerospace and defense applications, where qualification requirements, redesign costs and long program lifecycles make component changes significantly more complex.

Flexxon supports customers with fixed-BOM solutions extending beyond ten years and a commitment to maintaining products while customers continue to require them. This approach provides aerospace and defense manufacturers with an alternative to repeatedly redesigning systems around changing commercial NAND roadmaps.

World Micro works alongside customers to identify these requirements early, helping pair long-term component availability with broader strategies for obsolescence management, supply continuity and lifecycle planning.

Spotlight: Flexxon Radiation-Hardened Storage

One area of particular interest is Flexxon’s RAD-HARD NAND storage portfolio, engineered for aerospace and outer-space data applications where storage devices may be exposed to demanding environmental and radiation conditions. 

The portfolio includesFlexxon PCIe SSDs (HIX Series), eMMC (XTRA VII Series), and Memory Cards (FxAdv II Series). Depending on the product family, available capabilities include capacities up to 8TB, hardware power-loss protection, AES-256 and TCG OPAL data encryption, FIPS 140-2 certification, and extended operating-temperature support. 

Flexxon’s radiation testing addresses several conditions relevant to space applications, including Total Ionizing Dose (TID), Single Event Effects (SEE), neutron radiation and Total Non-Ionizing Dose (TNID), alongside temperature and vacuum testing. 

Potential applications identified by Flexxon include satellites, rovers, telescopes, defense and intelligence systems, weather sensors, communications infrastructure, GPS, IoT and 5G systems. 

Combining Specialized Technology with Supply Chain Support

For World Micro customers, the value extends beyond access to the technology itself. World Micro combines Flexxon’s specialized storage portfolio with supply-chain expertise supporting aerospace and defense manufacturers navigating component shortages, obsolescence, long-term availability and demanding program requirements.

Together, the companies provide customers with another option for addressing a question that is becoming increasingly important across long-life programs: How do you design today for technology that still needs to be available years—or decades—from now?

“Flexxon’s long-lifecycle philosophy aligns extremely well with the customers World Micro supports,” added d Dan Ellsworth, President & CEO. “When a platform has to remain operational for decades, continuity matters. We want to help customers identify technologies and supply strategies that can support the full lifecycle of their programs.”

Learn More

To learn more about Flexxon’s radiation-hardened storage solutions or discuss long-term storage requirements for an aerospace or defense program, contact World Micro at info@worldmicro.com.  

About World Micro

World Micro is a global distributor specializing in electronic components and supply chain solutions for military, aerospace, industrial, and high-reliability applications. With a focus on speed, service, and dependable fulfillment, World Micro supports customers worldwide with responsive sourcing, logistics expertise, and value-added distribution services.

About Flexxon

Flexxon is a global leader in industrial NAND flash storage devices and next-generation hardware-based cybersecurity solutions. Rooted in its deep expertise in memory and storage technologies, Flexxon’s memory business has long served specialized industries such as the medical, industrial, automotive, and aerospace sectors with highly reliable, high-performance storage solutions designed to withstand extreme environments.

Learn more at www.worldmicro.com.

For pricing and inquiries, please contact World Micro at:

Email: info@worldmicro.com

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SOURCE World Micro

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Cox Automotive’s VinSolutions Embeds Fullpath’s AI-Powered Customer Data Platform Directly into Mutual Clients’ CRM

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ATLANTA, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cox Automotive’s VinSolutions, the industry’s number one CRM trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide, today announced a milestone upgrade: All mutual Fullpath and VinSolutions clients will have an embedded Customer Data Platform (CDP) with AI insights built in, powered by Fullpath technology.

“Other CDPs are mostly focused on data ingestion, structuring and organization. With Fullpath’s CDP in VinSolutions, we put the power of that data directly in the hands of sales reps to personalize every interaction and close more deals,” said Paulo da Silva, VP of Digital Commerce, Cox Automotive. “What’s unique about Fullpath and VinSolutions is that the embedded CDP can also be upgraded seamlessly with Agentic AI capabilities to make that enriched data truly actionable.”

Dealers who run both VinSolutions and Fullpath already know the value of unified customer data. What’s new is where that intelligence now lives: directly inside the VinSolutions CRM record sales reps already use every day, not a separate screen to check. A marketing director can target shoppers who are in-market; a GM or GSM can see which deals are closest to closing; and the sales team walks into every conversation with AI-powered insights already on the record they’re viewing — no extra login, no separate tool.

The VinSolutions integration with Fullpath’s CDP provides three major value points for dealers:

One less system to log into: Their existing CDP instance is now accessible directly through VinSolutions.More customer context: The AI summary powered by Fullpath is surfaced in the customer profile, giving users additional insight at critical moments of engagement.Website activity in VinSolutions: Fullpath website data is now visible directly in the VinSolutions’s timeline.

“This release brings the industry’s most powerful first-party data and AI-powered customer intelligence directly into the CRM dealers use every day,” said Jessica Stafford, SVP of Consumer Solutions, Cox Automotive. “Capabilities that used to require a separate platform and a separate budget, are now built directly into the system they already know. Only Cox Automotive can deliver this supercharged value at scale.”

“Bringing Fullpath’s CDP intelligence directly into VinSolutions feels like watching two powerhouse digital platforms lock together,” said Don Erwin, Marketing and Communication Director for Mtn View Automotive Group, in Chattanooga, TN. “Suddenly, the customer profile isn’t just a CRM record — it becomes a living picture of that shopper’s journey, interests, activity and intent. This integration doesn’t simply pull back the curtain on the customer; it practically tears it away, giving our team a level of visibility we’ve never had inside the CRM before.” 

“The pace and depth of innovation that has defined Fullpath will accelerate now that we’re part of the Cox Automotive portfolio,” said Aharon Horwitz, CEO & Co-Founder, Fullpath. “Nobody else can pair our AI with data at this scale. That’s going to drive value for dealers — and for this industry — that no one else can touch. And this is just the first move. There’s a lot more coming from Cox and Fullpath together.”

The embedded CDP upgrade is being rolled out to all customers who have VinSolutions CRM and Fullpath through the end of the year. For more information, reach out to your Fullpath Customer Success Manager.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive is the world’s largest automotive services and technology provider. Fueled by the largest breadth of first- and third-party data fed by 2.3 billion online interactions a year, Cox Automotive tailors leading solutions for car shoppers, auto manufacturers, dealers, lenders and fleets. The company has 29,000+ employees on four continents and a portfolio of industry-leading brands that include Autotrader®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, vAuto®, Dealertrack®, NextGear Capital™, CentralDispatch® and Cox Fleet®. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately owned, Atlanta-based company with $23 billion in annual revenue. Cox Automotive has been included on Glassdoor’s Best Companies in Tech & AI 2026 and Best Place to Work in 2026 lists. Visit coxautoinc.com or connect via @CoxAutomotive on X, CoxAutoInc on Facebook or Cox-Automotive-Inc on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Cox Automotive

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