The British startup HoloMem is developing an optical storage technology intended to make traditional magnetic tape obsolete.
HoloMem has developed a flexible tape based on light-sensitive polymers that enables holographic data storage. The technology combines the durability of optical media with the ease of use of traditional LTO (Linear Tape Open) magnetic tape storage systems, allowing data centers to easily make the switch.
More Storage and Longer Lifespan
According to HoloMem, a single cartridge can store up to 200 terabytes of data, more than eleven times that of LTO-10. The tapes are expected to last fifty years, without consuming energy to store data. The optical tapes are one hundred meters long, while classic tape requires much more length for less storage capacity.
Thanks to inexpensive laser diodes and industrial polymers, production costs remain low. The tapes are write-once but can be read endlessly.
Easy Transition
A key advantage is that the HoloDrives fit into existing tape infrastructure, writes Tom’s Hardware. The cartridges are compatible with the robotic arms of traditional storage libraries and require almost no hardware or software modifications.
The technology will soon be tested at data center specialist TechRe in the United Kingdom. A launch date has not yet been set, and it remains to be seen whether traditional tape will effectively be replaced by this more sustainable, efficient, and user-friendly alternative.