Microsoft is testing new connection technologies for data centers: MOSAIC and Hollow Core Fiber.
Microsoft is working on a new generation of data center connections designed to be faster, more efficient, and more reliable, with commercialization planned by the end of 2027. This involves two technologies: MOSAIC, which uses MicroLEDs instead of lasers, and a further rollout of Hollow Core Fiber (HCF).
MicroLEDs replace lasers
With MOSAIC, Microsoft is taking a different approach than traditional optical cables, according to Tom’s Hardware. Instead of sending data via a few high-speed channels, MOSAIC works with hundreds of parallel, slower channels via micro-LEDs. This provides the same capacity but in a more efficient way.
According to Microsoft, this can consume up to 50 percent less energy, reduce interference by up to 100 times, and be cheaper than laser-based solutions. The technology was tested in collaboration with MediaTek and fits into existing data center hardware without modifications.
Faster traffic with air-filled fibers
In addition to MOSAIC, Microsoft is also increasing its focus on Hollow Core Fiber, a type of fiber optic where light travels through air instead of glass. This, in turn, results in up to 47 percent faster data transmission and approximately 33 percent lower latency. The technology is already in use in certain Azure regions and primarily targets connections between data centers.
MOSAIC is intended for connections within data centers, while Hollow Core Fiber bridges longer distances. Together, they are expected to provide faster and more efficient cloud infrastructure.