Lightera Opens New Optical Cable Plant in Mexicali

Lightera, a leading provider of optical fiber and connectivity solutions, has inaugurated a new production plant in Mexicali, Baja California, significantly expanding its optical cable manufacturing capabilities and solidifying its role as a strategic supplier for the telecommunications and data center industries in Mexico and North America.

“The new production line in Mexicali is a clear demonstration of Lightera’s commitment to innovation and to Mexico’s technological development. We are increasing our manufacturing capacity to deliver next-generation optical solutions that meet international standards, strengthening the country as a strategic connectivity hub in the region,” says Helio Durigan, Senior Vice President, Lightera.

This opening marks the second phase of Lightera’s operational development in the country and responds to the rapidly growing digital market. Demand has surged due to the company’s expansion across Latin America, the increasing need for robust data center infrastructure, and the accelerated technological transformation among telecommunications operators and internet service providers (ISPs).

Lightera first established operations in Mexicali in 2017, focusing on cable connectorization. The newly launched second phase adds a full-scale production line dedicated to optical cable manufacturing, further reinforcing the company’s position as a leader in next-generation connectivity solutions.

The plant employs about 400 people and integrates advanced production technology capable of manufacturing multi-tube cables with up to 288 optical fiber strands. These components feed into Lightera’s end-to-end connectivity portfolio, enabling the company to better meet rising demand driven by increased data traffic and continuous digitalization across industries.

The expansion includes new infrastructure for mechanical and optical testing, ensuring compliance with the highest quality and reliability benchmarks. By manufacturing locally, Lightera also meets national certification requirements while cutting logistical costs and reducing delivery times for customers.

Products made in Mexicali are export-ready, meeting international standards that allow the company to serve markets across Latin America and North America.

“This expansion strengthens our competitiveness to serve both local and international markets and reinforces our commitment to job creation, technology transfer, and Mexico’s industrial development,” says Durigan.

Lightera’s Mexicali plant recently received the “Hecho en México” (Made in Mexico) seal, granted by the Ministry of Economy on Nov. 27 in Mexico City. The certification highlights Lightera’s investment in national talent, engineering capabilities, and domestic manufacturing capacity, strengthening Mexico’s role in regional connectivity supply chains.

Mexicali is seeing significant infrastructure developments in recent months. Tetra Pak, a global leader in food processing and packaging solutions, inaugurated in October an expansion of its plant in the state with an investment of MX$1 billion, reports MBN. The site is Tetra Pak’s second-largest plant of its kind worldwide, employing over 200 people. Notably, 20% of its production uses plant-based bioresins derived from sugarcane. The facility manufactures more than 5 billion caps annually.

Earlier in October, Innova Engineered Plastics opened a new manufacturing facility in Mexicali, marking a key expansion of its global production network for medical devices and other highly regulated industries, reports MBN. Located in Baja California’s medical device corridor, the Mexicali plant adds capacity for injection molding, reaction injection molding, cast urethane molding, thermoforming, CNC machining, finishing, assembly lines and in-house tool maintenance. The site will support customers seeking near-shore solutions with faster turnaround and reduced costs.