NTT's $100M optical fund backs Spanish startup Ephos as first bet
What's the deal? NTTDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has picked Spanish startup Ephos as the first investment for its optical communications fund, as the Japanese telecom giant seeks outside partners to advance its technology for artificial intelligence.
Why now? AI's soaring compute demands are straining traditional electronics, pushing companies toward optical technology that moves data with light to cut power use and boost speed. NTTDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → is betting its optical know-how can carve out a role in that shift.
What's the endgame? The fund is built to promote NTT's optical technology for AI by tying up with external startups. Ephos, its first target, marks an early step in that push.
The signal: By reaching beyond Japan for its first deal, NTT signals it wants a global footprint in the race to make AI infrastructure faster and more efficient — with optical technology as its wedge.
Read more: Nikkei Asia
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
