Latency Advantage, Delivered.
Hollow Core Fiber pigtails for AI clusters and DCI — 30% lower propagation delay than solid-core fiber. Lab samples available for evaluation.
Lab Samples
HCF Direct-Connect & HCF Extended Conversion
99.7% c in a Vacuum
Light travels through air, not glass. Propagation latency drops to ~3.3 µs/km versus ~5 µs/km for standard SMF. For synchronized AI training across a campus, that 30–47% delay reduction translates directly to faster model convergence.
More Power, Less Distortion
The nonlinear refractive index of air is roughly 1,000× lower than silica. Pump higher optical power into dense WDM channels without triggering four-wave mixing or signal distortion. HCF removes the fiber as the bottleneck.
Fewer Amplifiers
Lower attenuation (0.09–0.15 dB/km in current production grades) extends unamplified reach. For DCI and metro rings, that means fewer huts, less equipment, and lower OPEX.
Two Ways to Bridge SMF and HCF.
HCF Direct-Connect Pigtail
- HCF runs directly to the LC or SC connector housing
- Mode corrector integrated inside the connector body
- SMF end-face at the polished connector interface
- Compact form factor — no external transition hardware
- Best for: Straight-run applications with no bend constraints at the connector end
- Trade-off: Return loss <40 dB at the HCF-SMF transition; position away from sensitive transceiver ports
HCF Extended Conversion Pigtail
- Standard SMF at the LC or SC connector end-face
- Mode conversion tube transitions SMF to HCF along the cable
- Better return loss at the connector (>55 dB UPC / >65 dB APC) — transceiver-safe
- Requires splice tray space for the mode conversion tube (same size as mass fusion splice protection sleeve)
- Best for: Transceiver-adjacent patching, structured cabling environments, and deployments where RL must be minimized
Lab-Sample Performance
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Insertion Loss | <0.5 dB (including mode transition) |
| Return Loss | <40 dB (at HCF-SMF transition point) |
| Higher-Order Mode Suppression | ≥20 dB |
| Connector Polish | PC (UPC) and APC available |
| Connector Types | LC, SC |
| Fiber Grade | G.657.A1/A2 compatible SMF lead |
Note: Specifications represent current lab-sample performance. Production targets and cost models are under evaluation based on customer demand and material cost trajectory.
Where HCF Fits
Tighter Sync, Faster Training
Distributed AI training requires nanosecond-level synchronization across GPU nodes. The 30% latency reduction in HCF links tightens the synchronization window, improving all-reduce efficiency and shortening model-to-market timelines.
Longer Unamplified Reach
Connect data centers across a city without inline amplifiers. Lower attenuation and higher launch power tolerance mean simpler link budgets and fewer failure points in the outside plant.
Future-Proof the Physical Layer
Deploy HCF Extended Conversion pigtails today with standard LC/SC patching infrastructure. When HCF trunk cables become cost-competitive, the transition is already built into your splice trays. No forklift upgrade required.
Standards & Compliance
Evaluate HCF in Your Lab
Lab samples of both HCF Direct-Connect and HCF Extended Conversion pigtail variants are available for optical performance validation. Request a sample kit with LC and SC connectors, PC and APC polish options, and compatible test cables.