1RU Xponder and Muxponder Systems Deliver High-Density 100G/400G Transport, Deterministic Low Latency, and Zero Recurring Software Licensing
REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XKL LLC, a leading provider of Layer 1 optical networking systems, announced today the general availability and initial customer shipments of its MediaLight™ product family, including the MediaLight Xponder and MediaLight Muxponder. Engineered to eliminate multi-linecard chassis complexity, the 1RU platform delivers high-density optical transport and ships immediately to support network expansion across enterprise, cloud, and regional service provider networks.
As data center interconnect (DCI), enterprise research networks, and regional carriers face surging bandwidth requirements alongside extended hardware lead times, the MediaLight platform provides immediate deployment velocity. Built with a flexible alien wave-compatible architecture in mind, MediaLight integrates seamlessly over existing dark fiber or third-party open line systems (OLS), giving network architects capacity without vendor lock-in.
Key Technical Capabilities:
- High-Density Form Factor: Compact 1RU appliances deliver scalable 100G and 400G soft-configurable transport with 24 license-free QSFP-DD/QSFP28 transceiver ports, maximizing rack efficiency and reducing power consumption.
- Deterministic Low Latency: Optimized for mission-critical DCI, AI interconnects, and financial trading networks requiring minimal overhead and sub-5us latency.
- Zero Recurring Software Fees: Eliminates ongoing subscription and feature license fees; complete transport functionality is included with the hardware.
- Open Optical Interoperability: Native alien wavelength compatibility enables seamless integration across multi-vendor DWDM line systems.
- Streamlined Turn-Up: Automated optical settings and standard CLI/SNMP management enable rapid deployment without a need for specialized optical engineers.
“Network architects are fatigued by 20 to 60+ week hardware backlogs and bloated software subscription models that penalize bandwidth growth,” said Casey Inman, Director of Sales & Marketing at XKL. “With MediaLight, we deliver flexible, plug-and-play Layer 1 transport that is shipping today so customers hit capacity milestones without delay.”
Availability
The MediaLight Xponder and MediaLight Muxponder are shipping globally as of August 2026. For more information on each product visit xkl.com/medialight-muxponder/ or xkl.com/medialight-xponder/.
About XKL
XKL delivers accessible DWDM solutions that are simple to deploy and easy to manage. Our built-to-order systems are developed with XKL’s customer-centric approach, ensuring reliable core, middle mile, and backhaul networks. Trusted by operators globally, XKL’s license-free model allows network teams of any size to meet the growing demand for optical network performance at layer 1. Visit www.xkl.com.
Media Contact:
Carl Sketchley
SOURCE XKL, LLC
