June 22, 2026 - The copper era in data centers has a hard expiration date — and the clock is ticking faster than the market may realize. As bandwidth demands push past the physical limits of copper interconnects, the data center networking landscape is on the verge of a structural shift. CFRA's Angelo Zino breaks down exactly what's driving it, what comes next, and which companies are best positioned to win.
Key takeaways from the full report:
- Copper interconnects are hitting physical bandwidth limits, forcing a structural shift toward optical connectivity
- NVIDIA's roadmap signals a hybrid copper-optical approach with Rubin Ultra in 2027, followed by a full optical commitment with Feynman in 2028
- The transition is already triggering billions in supply chain commitments across the photonics ecosystem
- Optical bottlenecks are expected to persist over the next two years, driving upside to a growing TAM and higher pricing
Download the full report for CFRA's top-rated names positioned to capture share as this transition accelerates.