AAOIAnother notch in the belt
Applied Optoelectronics is teaming up with Mediacom to help accelerate upgrades to the cable operator’s fiber and coax network. Mediacom says it wants faster upload and download speeds for 1 million homes by the end of 2026, which means this isn’t just a “nice logo on a press release” moment — it’s part of a real rollout.
Why investors should care
AAOI lives and dies by demand for the hardware that powers high-speed networks. When a big cable operator keeps talking about upgrades, it signals the spending party may still be going, and companies like AAOI can benefit if those plans turn into actual orders.
The bigger picture
Mediacom is the fifth-largest cable operator in the U.S., serving more than 3 million homes and businesses across 22 states. So if you’re looking for proof that broadband upgrades are still a thing in a world obsessed with AI, there you go: the pipes still need widening, and AAOI wants a piece of the action.
Big picture: this is the kind of partnership that won’t make your coffee shoot out your nose, but it can quietly support the bull case if network upgrade spending keeps humming.