Photonics targets copper wiring in data centres

Data centres are testing photonics to reduce the copper used in networking and to add capacity. A typical 100MW facility uses around 400 tonnes of copper, including up to 70 tonnes in servers and up to 20 tonnes in network wiring.

Photonics sends data as photons rather than electrons. Because light produces less heat than electricity, the technology could reduce the energy needed for cooling. Multiple data streams can also share a channel. Chris Sharp of Digital Reality says the industry may be reaching the end of copper use in data-centre connections, rather than running out of the metal.

Peter O'Brien of Tyndall Research Institute says photonics is moving from laboratories toward wider use, helped by Nvidia's support. The shift still faces manufacturing, cost and reliability challenges. Optical components are sensitive to heat, while supply chains and final assembly remain distributed, including in Taiwan. Installers and support engineers will also need new skills.

Companies are working toward optical processing as well as optical data links. Ofer Shapiro of Resolight.ai argues that keeping data in the optical domain could save more energy, but this remains a future goal. Cornerstone Labs is scaling production using older silicon equipment, including a tool from a former Intel line that made Pentium 4 chips.