Annual member awards spotlight Optical LAN as the industry's premier networking solution.

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / APOLAN, the non-profit organization advocating for the education and global adoption of Optical Local Area Networks, is pleased to announce the winners of their 2025 Awards. These awards recognize individuals and member companies that have embraced the association's mission to accelerate the adoption and evolution of fiber optic local access networks for enterprise environments. Award winners were honored during an award ceremony at the APOLAN Annual Member Meeting on Feb. 18, 2026.

Education Award
The APOLAN Education Award recognizes member companies that have implemented initiatives to contribute to the education or promotion of Optical LAN and its benefits.

This year's winner is Tellabs for its YouTube-based training initiative. Tellabs created an accessible, high‑impact educational platform featuring more than 100 videos and over 1,800 subscribers, providing valuable content to learners worldwide. This has been an effective way to share knowledge, raise awareness and evangelize the benefits of Optical LAN.

Excellence Award
The APOLAN Excellence Award recognizes the effective coordination of different teams, efficient problem-solving and top-notch execution of project plans that lead to the successful installation of Optical LAN systems.

This year's winner is UberData Networks for its large-scale resort Optical LAN deployment. The project leveraged an Optical LAN fiber backbone to integrate advanced technologies, including Class-4 Fault Managed Power Systems for power distribution, high-power PoE for low-voltage lighting, IoT sensors, and in-room digital services - all while achieving exceptional energy efficiency. With zero-touch connectivity, the solution delivered a seamless end-to-end guest experience.

Innovation Award
The APOLAN Innovation Award recognizes member companies that have promoted innovative Optical LAN advancements to meet the industry's challenges.

This year's winner is Nokia for its 25G ONT, the first enterprise‑grade 25G PON solution on the market. Nokia's ONT supports both 10G XGS-PON and 25G PON, ensuring long‑term scalability and future‑ready network upgrades. With low latency suitable for Wi‑Fi 7 backhaul, surveillance, and dense IoT environments, it delivers exceptional performance where it matters most.

International Award
The APOLAN Innovation Award recognizes member companies internationally that have contributed to the education or promotion of Optical LAN and its benefits.

This year's winner is Lightera for its extraordinary training contributions across Latin America. Lightera has trained more than 4,300 individuals and issued 1,200 certificates, significantly expanding Optical LAN knowledge across the region. Its efforts have built a vibrant community of certified professionals and supported large‑scale digital transformation initiatives.

Champion Award
The APOLAN Champion Award recognizes individuals who have raised awareness and increased the visibility of Optical LAN and its benefits.

This year's winner is Gustavo Morice. Gustavo is one of the strongest voices for Optical LAN in Latin America, presenting at multiple BICSI CALA events across Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. He actively supports APOLAN initiatives in several countries and serves as a trusted advisor to integrators implementing Passive Optical LAN projects throughout the region.

Learn more about this year's winners and view a list of past recipients.

About APOLAN
APOLAN is a non-profit organization driving adoption and educating the market about Optical LAN technology's economic and technical advantages. Through its membership of manufacturers, distributors, integrators and consulting companies actively involved in the marketplace, the association hopes to help designers, engineers, architects, building owners, CIOs and IT departments implement and successfully use optical networks.

Contact:
Brianne Scott
director@apolanglobal.org

SOURCE: APOLAN