Hollow-Core Fiber Breakthrough Promises Faster, Longer-Distance Data Transmission

A new type of hollow-core optical fiber could dramatically enhance both data capacity and transmission distance in a single strand, paving the way for faster and more efficient telecommunications networks. Developed by researchers at the University of Southampton, the technology was published on September 1 in Nature Photonics.

Unlike conventional solid-glass fibers, the new design features a distinctive “glass straw” structure. Its core is formed by a ring of five microscopic glass tubes, each nested with two even finer tubes. These precisely engineered channels allow only specific wavelengths of light to travel through the hollow interior, effectively confining light within the core and minimizing signal loss.

The hollow architecture enables light to travel about 45% faster than in standard fibers, making it especially valuable for latency-sensitive applications such as data center interconnects. It also achieves substantially lower signal loss—retaining half its strength even after 33 kilometers, compared with just 15–20 kilometers in commercial fibers. This extended reach allows relay stations to be placed farther apart, reducing infrastructure costs.

Beyond lower loss, the fiber can carry up to a thousand times more power and support a broader wavelength range, including visible light, making it suitable for quantum communication systems. By contrast, traditional fibers are optimized mainly for infrared wavelengths around 1.5 micrometers.

Although hollow-core fibers have historically faced cost barriers, the researchers note that scalable production could significantly reduce prices. The breakthrough is seen as a potential game-changer for both classical internet infrastructure and future quantum communication networks.