Evolving and Simplifying FTTH Deployment | Evolv® with Pushlok® Technology | Corning

Bob Whitman
Published: October 16, 2025

Five years ago, Corning introduced our award-winning Evolv^® Terminal with Pushlok^® technology to continue simplifying fiber deployment and accelerating connectivity — and it has been transforming networks ever since.
 

As we mark the 5^th anniversary of the Pushlok connector, the enabling technology behind the Evolv terminals, we’re reflecting on the journey, how fiber deployments have changed along the way, and how Corning continues to innovate for future deployment needs.

To understand the impact of the Pushlok technology — and its inception — let’s go back in time to the early 2000s when network providers were looking to meet emerging demand for faster and more reliable connectivity by introducing fiber to the home (FTTH). In 2003, the first large-scale FTTH initiative began, but it quickly became clear that scaling would require a complete change in deployment philosophy. The reliance on specialized splice labor to connect each subscriber home was the challenge. Providers needed a simpler, more scalable solution to accelerate broadband access.

The result was the creation of OptiTap hardened connectors that screwed directly into terminal ports. The idea was to dramatically cut back on splicing and, in turn, eliminate hours of labor for a simpler, more reliable deployment. The market responded – and over the next decade and a half, OptiTap accelerated fiber deployments across the globe, helping us reach 100 million homes.

OptiTap set a new standard for connectivity, but we saw potential to make deployments simpler to save operators more time and money. The next wave of innovation built upon 15 years of customer feedback and field experience. In 2020, Evolv Solutions leveraging Pushlok connector technology were introduced.

These generations of drops and terminals were designed to enable densified networks and support scalable, lower-cost rollouts that bring fiber into hard-to-reach areas.

With a plug-and-play connector half the size of OptiTap and terminals a quarter of the previous volume, Evolv terminals offer unmatched flexibility compared to legacy solutions. Their compact design allows placement in tighter spaces, by design or necessity, opening up placement options and further reducing deployment costs. 

Beyond cost savings and simplicity, Evolv has been celebrated for its small size and aesthetics, allowing deployment in a wide variety of complex environments. For instance, in one English town with historic cobblestone streets, where underground deployment was not an option and bulky terminals detracted from the charm of the buildings, the compact Evolv terminal provided a discreet alternative.

Today, FTTH is rapidly gaining momentum and becoming the norm across much of the United States, due in no small part to the simplification of deployment through pre-terminated fiber technology.  Evolv makes it easy for providers to fill the last gaps of connectivity, connecting remote, lower-density communities. Its plug-and-play approach eliminates splicing and reduces reliance on increasingly scarce skilled labor in rural areas. The result? More than 15 million homes passed with this latest technology. Deployments are getting not only easier but less costly, as the newest solutions can save hundreds of dollars per terminal placement.

Five years after its introduction, the Evolv platform continues to adapt to accelerate broadband access and bridge the digital divide. Major innovations like the award-winning Evolv Field-Installable Pushlok Connector are expanding deployment versatility, offering the flexibility and convenience of a field-installable solution with the award-winning push-and-click Pushlok technology. Additionally, the Evolv Openable Terminal, which is already available in Europe, supports various network configurations and can be opened for field installation of feeder cables and serves as a cable end closure or tap-off solution. As networks continue to evolve to meet ever-growing demand, Evolv stands as a foundation for the next generation of fiber deployment, to connect more people — in more places — with speed and efficiency.