As the dawn of technology dawned, the clarion call for industrialization quickly sounded.
In the hollow-core fiber arena, technology is no longer the sole protagonist. With capital
pouring in and giants making their presence felt, a fierce commercial competition unfolds
over market penetration, cost competition, and ecosystem building. Putting aside technical
challenges, what more complex "non-technical" obstacles stand in the way of large-scale
commercialization of hollow-core fiber?
I. Strategic Breakthrough: Selecting the "Optimal Solution" Scenario and Prioritizing Value
The choice of industrialization path is crucial to success. An expert from a university research
institute offered a clear strategic recommendation: "From the perspective of rapid value
creation, I believe the promotion of hollow-core fiber in the Data Center Interconnect (DCI)
sector should be prioritized."
Why DCI? First, this scenario places extreme demands on low latency. Hollow-core fiber
can reduce transmission latency by approximately 30% compared to traditional fiber,
offering immediate advantages. Second, DCI links are relatively short, placing less stringent
demands on the long-term reliability of optical fiber than backbone networks spanning
thousands of kilometers, lowering the barrier to initial deployment. As testing experts put it,
"Essentially, the question is whether a 30% latency reduction is attractive enough for
high-value services." In high-end DCI markets like finance and cloud computing, this
advantage can easily translate into premium pricing. Gaining a foothold in a high-value,
highly sensitive market segment and creating a demonstration effect is key to breaking
the deadlock.
II. Core Obstacle: Cost Concerns and the "Chicken and Egg" Cycle
However, industry experts also point to the most practical obstacle: "Scepticism about
hollow-core fiber and an inability to accept the current high prices." This creates a typical
industrialization cycle: high prices stem from small-batch production and high R&D costs;
expanding scale and reducing costs require sufficient market demand.
The solution lies in moving beyond the traditional cost-performance mindset of optical
fiber and focusing on its irreplaceable performance value. Industry experts point out that
applications in long-distance transmission networks will have to wait for standardization
and price reductions, but "data center interconnect applications are more aggressive."
This means that the early market must be led by "lighthouse users" who are extremely
performance-sensitive and have a certain tolerance for cost.
III. Ecosystem Building: Can the Standardization Process Be "Fast-Forwarded"?
Standards are the cornerstone of industry maturity. Testing experts offer an optimistic
perspective: Unlike the single-mode fiber standard, which took 16 years to perfect, "
HCF was born in an era of highly developed optical communications, so the standardization
process should be more optimistic."
The early establishment of standards will greatly promote the interoperability of optical fiber
interfaces, devices, and modules, reduce R&D uncertainty across the entire ecosystem, and
thus accelerate cost reductions. This requires all parties in the industry chain to abandon
siloed efforts and embrace openness and collaboration.
At its core, the industrialization of hollow-core fiber is a test of strategy, patience, and
ecological wisdom. It doesn't require simultaneous victory on all fronts, but rather a concentrated
effort to secure a first victory in strategic areas like DCI. Once the first large-scale application case
is successfully implemented and a closed value chain is established, it will effectively counter cost
concerns, drive accelerated standardization, and ultimately kick-start the entire industry, entering
a virtuous cycle of "expanding applications → reducing costs → thriving ecosystem."
The IFOC 2025 Forum also sent a strong signal: the industrialization of hollow-core optical fiber
is no longer a mere concept. While cost remained a focal point, the consensus among attendees
was that hollow-core optical fiber should first be demonstrated through high-value scenarios,
and then be used to drive cost reductions throughout the supply chain.
