With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC), the heat density of data center racks has been continuously increasing, and traditional air-cooling methods can no longer meet the demands of ultra-high-power workloads. Industry reports indicate that current GPU clusters can exceed rack power levels of 100 kW under full load, and air cooling faces the risk of thermal runaway. Liquid cooling leverages the high thermal conductivity and heat capacity of liquids to replace air for heat dissipation, significantly reducing data center energy consumption, improving cooling efficiency, and lowering noise and total cost of ownership. Practices have shown that liquid cooling can reduce a data center’s PUE to below 1.2 while decreasing energy and water consumption throughout its lifecycle.

The exponential growth of AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) is placing unprecedented demands on data center infrastructure, particularly the physical layer. As fiber counts soar, efficient installation, deployment, and ongoing management of high-density fiber optic cable assemblies become paramount. As an OEM/ODM, we understand these challenges intimately and continuously refine our approaches. This article explores key best practices and innovative approaches to optimize your data center’s fiber backbone, drawing insights from industry leaders.

AI applications – especially large language models and deep learning – are dramatically increasing data center demands for compute, storage, and networking. Analysts estimate that global data creation will double over the next five years, and AI alone is expected to drive data center storage from ~10.1 ZB in 2023 to ~21.0 ZB by 2027 (≈18.5% CAGR)

Installing last-mile fiber often feels like an obstacle course. Crews race against weather and permits – pulling cables through muddy streets, cramped basements, or downspouts in pouring rain. Every step is painstaking: digging new ducts or unlocking hardened enclosures; measuring and splicing each fragile strand by hand. Traditional methods are slow and labor-intensive. For example, one field report found that adding even a single fusion splice could turn a cabinet install from 6–9 hours into 2-5 hours. Across the industry, operators list the biggest headaches: site access delays, extreme environments, limited space, meager crews, and finicky connectors. Key pain points include: