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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 Cornerstone Advisors Research Reveals Gap Between AI Adoption and Marketing Execution in Financial Services

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September 29, 2026

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Study identifies speed to market as an emerging competitive advantage for financial institutions.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Banks and credit unions are embracing generative artificial intelligence for marketing, but most have yet to address a more fundamental barrier to growth: the time it takes to turn customer signals into compliant action.

New research from Cornerstone Advisors finds that financial institutions often measure marketing performance by campaign results, engagement and personalization while overlooking speed to market. That disconnect can leave institutions unable to respond before a customer need, market opportunity or competitive opening has passed. 

Commissioned by Persado, the report, Speed Is a Revenue Strategy: How AI Agents Accelerate Bank Marketing, is based on a recent study of bank and credit union marketing leaders and examines how AI agents can help financial institutions reduce compliance bottlenecks, orchestrate customer journeys and act on market opportunities in real time. Unlike generative AI tools that primarily create content, AI agents can execute defined actions within approved controls and governance frameworks.

“The banking industry’s challenge isn’t a lack of marketing technology. It’s the inability to move fast enough to capitalize on opportunities,” said Elizabeth Gujral, a director at Cornerstone Advisors and co-author of the report. “AI agents can help institutions compress marketing timelines, engage customers at higher-intent moments and measure speed as a growth metric, not just an efficiency metric.” 

The research highlights a significant gap between financial institutions’ use of generative AI and their adoption of agentic AI:

Generative AI use is growing, but remains largely tactical. Sixty-three percent of bank and credit union marketing teams use generative AI for content creation, compared with 32% that use AI for analytics and decision support. 

Adoption of AI agents remains limited. Just 9% of respondents currently use AI agents capable of executing actions. Forty-seven percent consider agentic AI an experimental or emerging investment area, while only 5% identify it as a top strategic priority. 

Comfort with governed autonomy is increasing. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said that, within two years, they expect their organizations to be somewhat or very comfortable allowing AI agents to execute marketing actions within approved boundaries. 

Orchestration and recommendations offer the greatest perceived impact. Respondents identified campaign or journey orchestration at 27% and offer or product recommendations at 25% as the AI agent applications with the greatest potential business impact. 

“AI agents are not just another marketing tool. They are a way to compress the distance between customer signal and compliant action,” said Emmanuel Richard, chief revenue officer at Persado. “Institutions that can move from insight to outreach in hours instead of weeks will be better positioned to win deposits, loans, loyalty and wallet share while competitors are still waiting on approvals.” 

Compliance review is among the most significant obstacles to faster execution, the study found. Review cycles at some financial institutions can take four to six weeks, even as business opportunities emerge and disappear within days or hours. AI-powered compliance review can help shorten that timeline while maintaining regulatory oversight, defined controls and auditability. 

The report identifies four practical applications for AI agents in financial services marketing: integrated compliance review, intelligent customer journey orchestration, generative content optimization and real-time segmentation. These applications can help institutions validate content, trigger timely outreach, accelerate testing and keep customer segments current. 

The full report is available as a free download here. 

About Cornerstone Advisors

For more than 20 years, Cornerstone Advisors has delivered bold strategies, data-driven insights and practical solutions to banks, credit unions and fintech companies. Its services include technology system selection and implementation, contract negotiations, vendor management, performance improvement, strategic planning, merger integration and enterprise program management. For more information, visit https://www.crnrstone.com. 

About Persado

Persado provides AI-powered content compliance and performance solutions for marketing. Its Marketing Compliance AI platform combines regulatory compliance analysis, performance prediction scoring and brand-fit insights to help financial services marketing and legal teams identify compliance risks and shorten review cycles. For more information, visit https://www.persado.com/. 

Media Contact

Cate Pitts, Editorial Director
Cornerstone Advisors
423672@email4pr.com
480-425-5203

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Eqvista Tracks $9 Trillion in Private Company Value Across 65,000 U.S. Companies

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September 29, 2026

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Eqvista establishes a $9 trillion baseline for the U.S. private-company market, creating a new benchmark for tracking changes in private market value over time.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eqvista, a leading equity management and valuation platform for private companies, today announced that Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® now tracks and values 65,000 relevant U.S. private companies with a combined estimated valuation of $9 trillion.

Together, these companies represent approximately 95% of the relevant market value captured within Eqvista’s U.S. private-company dataset, establishing a baseline for tracking private company valuations over time.

Eqvista will monitor changes in the combined value of its private-company dataset monthly, creating an ongoing benchmark for how private market valuations move over time.

Private company valuation has traditionally been fragmented. Unlike public markets, where market capitalization and pricing can be observed continuously, private-company valuations are produced for individual businesses at specific points in time, making it difficult to see how the market as a whole is changing.

Eqvista is applying its valuation infrastructure across thousands of businesses to move beyond individual valuations and build a continuously evolving view of private market value.

“Private markets have never had the valuation visibility that public markets take for granted,” said Tomas Milar, Founder and CEO of Eqvista. “With approximately 65,000 companies representing $9 trillion in estimated value, we now have a baseline for measuring the private market at scale. By updating that view over time, we can show not just what individual companies are worth, but how the private market itself is moving.”

Powered by Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation®, the system combines AI- and ML-powered valuation models with financial data, funding activity, market benchmarks, comparable-company data and valuation models with expert valuation oversight. Valuations evolve as company performance and market conditions change.

The September benchmark includes:

Approximately 65,000 relevant U.S. private companies$9 trillion in combined estimated company valuationApproximately 95% of relevant market value captured within Eqvista’s U.S. private-company datasetMonthly monitoring of changes in aggregate private market valueCompany and peer benchmarking across industries and market segments

The initiative expands Eqvista’s valuation infrastructure beyond individual company valuations to create a private market benchmark. Companies and investors can use Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® to monitor company value, compare performance with market peers, and track valuation changes over time through Eqvista’s web platform and mobile app.

About Eqvista

Eqvista is a valuation and equity management platform building valuation infrastructure for greater transparency across private markets. Trusted by more than 25,000 companies worldwide, Eqvista combines in-house valuation expertise with technology, AI-powered analysis, and equity management to help private companies understand and manage ownership and value throughout their lifecycle. Through Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation®, Eqvista is expanding beyond traditional point-in-time valuations to provide a more connected and continuously evolving view of private company value.

Contact Information

Jakub Vele
Head of Marketing
423656@email4pr.com
+1 (415) 375-4963

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myKaarma and Universal Technical Institute Announce Pilot Program at UTI-Atlanta

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September 29, 2026

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myKaarma’s digital multi-point inspection technology to be integrated into automotive technician training at no cost

LONG BEACH, Calif. and ATLANTA, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — myKaarma, the leading customer interaction and payments platform for automotive dealerships, today announced a pilot with Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a national leader in workforce solutions for transportation, skilled trades, healthcare and dental education programs.

The pilot will integrate myKaarma’s digital multi-point inspection technology into the automotive technician training program at Universal Technical Institute’s new Atlanta campus. myKaarma is providing its software at no cost for the pilot.

“The strong demand for technicians continues to put pressure on dealerships, making it even more important that new technicians enter the workforce ready for the realities of the job,” said Ujj Nath, CEO of myKaarma. “Working with UTI-Atlanta brings our technology directly into the classroom and gives students experience with the digital processes that are now part of the technician’s job.”

“We continue to evolve our training programs to reflect the reality of today’s dealership service departments,” said John Dodson, Vice President of Business Alliances, Universal Technical Institute. “This pilot with myKaarma positions their technology alongside the technical instruction, so our students have more context about how the work they’re doing on the vehicle fits into the broader service process.”

The pilot will build on UTI-Atlanta’s technical training by adding more of the digital skills used every day in dealership service departments. Along with mechanical expertise, dealership technicians document inspections, explain recommended repairs to customers and use digital platforms throughout the service process. Students will be progressively introduced to the features of the myKaarma platform as they advance through their courses.

By the program’s capstone course, students will use myKaarma across a more complete service lane workflow, conducting full multi-point inspections, developing expanded repair recommendations, and preparing detailed parts and labor estimates. They will also begin using Invisible Service Videos to document vehicle conditions and communicate recommended services to customers.

About myKaarma 
myKaarma is a leading provider of cloud-based software solutions that transform the after-sales service experience at automotive dealerships. Its integrated platform includes communications, appointment scheduling, payments, video inspections, and analytics tools used by thousands of dealers to increase efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability. For more information, visit mykaarma.com.

About Universal Technical Institute 
Founded in 1965, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is a national leader in workforce solutions for transportation, skilled trades, healthcare and dental education programs. The company’s industry-aligned programs are offered at 35 campuses nationwide and online under the brands Universal Technical Institute (UTI) and Concorde Career Colleges and include auto/diesel, aviation, welding, HVACR, electrical and energy, allied health, dental, nursing, patient care and diagnostic training. For more information, visit www.uti.edu or www.concorde.edu; LinkedIn at @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and @Concorde Career Colleges; or X at @news_UTI and @ConcordeCareer.

Media Contacts
Laurie Halter
Charisma! Communications
503-816-2474
423634@email4pr.com

Alanna Vitucci
Universal Technical Institute
423634@email4pr.com 

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