Data Centres Turn to Light-Based Tech to Cut Power Use and Add Capacity

Data centres, which power much of the world's digital infrastructure, are increasingly turning to light-based technology as a way to cut electricity use while expanding their computing capacity, according to a BBC Business report.

Traditional data centres rely heavily on copper wiring to move data between servers, a method that generates significant heat and consumes substantial amounts of electricity, particularly as computing demands continue to grow. The shift toward optical, or light-based, connections is aimed at addressing both of those constraints simultaneously.

Why the switch matters

Light-based data transmission can typically move information more efficiently than traditional copper wiring, potentially reducing the energy needed to operate large-scale computing facilities. As demand for computing power continues to rise, driven in part by artificial intelligence workloads, the pressure on data centres to find more efficient ways to operate has intensified.

The move to optical technology reflects a broader industry effort to address the environmental and cost implications of running increasingly power-hungry data infrastructure. Data centres already account for a substantial and growing share of global electricity consumption.

The extent to which the switch to light-based systems can meaningfully offset rising energy demand from expanding data centre capacity remains an open question the industry continues to examine.