The data centre industry is investigating photonics—the use of light-based technology—as a replacement for copper wiring in internal communications systems. Currently, a typical 100-megawatt data centre uses approximately 400 tonnes of copper, with up to 20 tonnes dedicated to network wiring connecting computer servers. Industry leaders argue that optical fibre, which has long been used for long-distance telecommunications, offers significant advantages when deployed within data centres themselves.
The primary benefit of photonics is that light transmission generates substantially less heat than electrical signals traveling through copper wires. This reduction in heat production directly translates to lower cooling requirements and reduced overall energy consumption. Additionally, multiple data streams can be transmitted simultaneously through a single optical channel, increasing capacity. Researchers and companies have been developing this technology for years, and according to experts, it is now positioned for commercial deployment at scale.
However, transitioning to photonics presents considerable challenges. The shift requires integrating different engineering traditions and supply chains, with manufacturing components distributed globally. Optical components are highly sensitive to heat, creating reliability concerns that must be carefully managed through strict thermal controls. Installation and maintenance also require workforce training, as fibre optics have specific handling requirements that differ significantly from copper systems.
Cost reduction remains an ongoing challenge, though industry observers note that photonics components are larger than silicon chips, allowing manufacturers to repurpose older semiconductor production equipment for their fabrication. Major technology companies, including Nvidia, have endorsed the technology, accelerating development. Looking further ahead, some experts envision fully optical data processing systems where data remains in the optical domain throughout computation, potentially yielding even greater energy savings than current proposals allow.
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