In sum – what to know:
HCF introduced – STL launches India’s first hollow core fiber cable, using an air-filled core to improve transmission speed and reduce latency compared to traditional fiber.
Hybrid design approach – Combines HCF with G.654.E and G.657.A1 fiber to support both ultra-low latency and broader network deployment needs.
AI infra focus – Targets data centers and high-performance networks as demand rises for low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity driven by AI workloads.
India-based Sterlite Technologies (STL) has launched a hollow core fiber (HCF) cable designed for data center and high-performance network environments, marking the first such deployment developed and manufactured domestically.
Unlike conventional optical fiber, which transmits light through a solid glass core, hollow core fiber uses an air-filled core. This allows signals to travel faster and reduces latency and signal attenuation. STL said the technology can enable transmission speeds up to around 46% faster than traditional fiber under certain conditions.
This makes HCF especially useful for modern data centers, where speed and efficiency are critical. It can reduce latency, improve signal quality, and support higher data rates, which is important for AI workloads, cloud services, and real-time applications that depend on fast communication between servers.
The company has combined HCF with other fiber types in a hybrid cable design aimed at supporting different network requirements. These include G.654.E fiber for long-distance, low-loss transmission and G.657.A1 fiber for more flexible deployment scenarios. The approach is intended to support a mix of ultra-low latency applications and broader network coverage, the Indian company said.
The development is positioned for use in data centers, hyperscale infrastructure, and high-frequency transmission environments, where latency and bandwidth constraints are becoming more critical with the growth of AI workloads.
According to STL, the cable has been developed through its in-house R&D efforts, which have focused on optical networking and high-capacity data transmission systems. The company holds a portfolio of more than 780 patents related to connectivity technologies.
Badri Gomatam, chief technology officer at STL, said the technology is aimed at addressing future network performance requirements. “With the launch of hollow core fiber cable, we are providing the ‘speed-of-light’ infrastructure required for the AI revolution.”
