RFID-enabled optical adapter for use with patch panel

One embodiment is directed to an optical adapter (100, 200) comprising a main body (106, 201) in which at least one connector (108) can be inserted; at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna (126, 226) and a visual indicator (128, 228). The optical adapter (100, 200) further comprises at least one adapter contact (136, 224) that is electrically connected to the RFID antenna (126, 226) and the visual indicator (128, 228) (128, 228); and a clip (144, 230) configured to electrically connect the adapter contact (136, 224) to a panel contact (142, 302, 304) on a panel (138, 300) when the optical adapter (100, 200) is inserted into the panel (138, 300) and to mechanically hold the optical adapter (100, 200) in the panel (138, 300). The RFID antenna (126, 226) is configured to be positioned near an RFID tag (102) attached to the connector (108) when the connector (108) is inserted into the body main (106, 201) of the optical adapter (100, 200). Other embodiments are disclosed.