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Corning’s Kevin Hussey explains why optical fibre, power and cooling are the three essential elements for AI-enabled data centres.
To say that generative AI is a game-changer is an understatement. It’s captured the public’s imagination and sparked excitement like no other technology development since the smartphone. But with companies launching new platforms every day, it can be easy to forget that behind the algorithms, or the programmed “thought” processes, a physical, fibre-based infrastructure makes gen AI’s digital magic possible.
When people talk about the explosive growth of computing capacity that AI requires and the hyperscale data centres needed to support those demands, they immediately list power and cooling as foundational. But that list isn’t complete. Simply stated, AI needs fibre, and a lot of it. Corning invented low-loss optical fibre over 50 years ago and we’ve been deeply embedded in every corner of the world’s networks ever since, from homes and businesses, across landscapes and oceans, and throughout data centres. The AI revolution will be no exception. Only fibre can provide the massive bandwidth, density, and adaptability necessary to support AI.
The AI ecosystem
It’s no coincidence that data centre components have names such as “trunks” and “leaves”. Trees possess a remarkable balance of strength, flexibility and interconnectedness. To thrive individually and as a forest, they need energy, water and solid roots. Remove any of those three essentials and the ecosystem collapses. The advent of AI has only made this similarity more evident. Today, fibre must be at the forefront of all network architecture planning.
Smaller, faster, easier
When I’m asked what it will take for data centres to win in the generative AI era, my answer begins with four vectors: speed, size, simplicity and sustainability. Over the past four years, Corning has reinvented solutions to include these key elements to help operators meet their goals for both today and tomorrow. To prepare networks for AI’s heightened demand, Corning not only focuses on producing the world’s highest-quality fibre, we leverage all our core capabilities – optical physics, glass science and ceramics science – continually innovating to anticipate and solve challenges within data centres. This ensures our customers can make the most of their facilities and opportunities while minimising their physical, resource and environmental footprints.
Speed: Operators’ primary challenge is adding capacity quickly. By moving skilled labour from the data centre to Corning’s factories, our plug-and-play, pre-connectorised assemblies let operators install four times faster while gaining 60 per cent greater density.
Size: Miniaturisation is a must for AI data centres. Operators have to fit more fibre components in the same space. Corning’s 190-micron SMF-28® Contour fibre is 40 per cent smaller. It also allows tighter bends, greater flexibility and higher density while it retains durability, low latency and low signal loss.
Simplicity: MMC connectors are not only up to three times smaller than a traditional MTP® connector, they’re designed to maximise efficiency while minimising the risk of error during connection, making deployment faster and simpler.
Sustainability: Shrinking the entire optical footprint uses less material for packaging, reducing its carbon footprint. Corning also invented a cable distribution system that carries 55 per cent less embodied carbon than our legacy solution.
It has become increasingly clear that two additional considerations, supply chain and scale, will play a more critical role than ever before.
Supply chain: Corning is uniquely positioned to meet operators’ needs thanks to our global network of suppliers, distributors and manufacturing centres. For years, Corning has invented, manufactured, and sold our own components. We invest significantly in research and development and manufacture in-house. This ensures the quality, flexibility and efficiency necessary to deliver the highly customised solutions that quickly evolving network and data centre customers demand, while meeting tight build schedules.
Scale: Through decades of experience, we’ve developed the rare ability to innovate and customise at vast scale. This summer Corning announced a landmark supply agreement with the owner of the largest intercity fibre network in North America. As part of this agreement, we will provide a substantial supply of next-generation optical cable. This fibre-dense cable will more than double the network’s US intercity fibre miles, offering significant capacity to major cloud data centres racing to stay ahead of AI workloads and high-bandwidth applications. This is just the latest example of Corning’s role as a trusted partner for projects of national and global scale.
One of the achievements we’re proudest of at Corning is our ability to not only innovate to go smaller, faster, simpler and at scale, but to enhance the optical performance of our solutions at the same time.
Moving the industry forward with every connection
Throughout Corning’s history, we’ve never stopped working to propel humanity forwards with life-changing inventions. From Edison’s lightbulb and NASA missions to high-speed broadband connectivity, cars and smartphones, Corning’s technology continues to shape our world. We work closely with the world’s largest hyperscale cloud operators to lay the fibre-rich foundation required for AI’s historic rise. Corning’s particular style of wisdom-backed creativity – a deep legacy of materials science, engineering and collaborative instinct – is ideally suited to connecting the neural infrastructure and inventing data centre solutions that will make the future of AI a reality.
Leading companies across the network choose Corning because they can trust our well-earned reputation for creativity and reliability. Every year, we reinvest approximately 10 per cent of our revenues into R&D. Prioritising invention ensures our experts continuously fuel our innovation pipeline, such as co-packaged optics that will push fibre farther into data racks. We’re driving the industry, not reacting to it. Corning’s scientists and engineering teams are backed by a global manufacturing footprint and an incredibly robust supply chain that ensure the products our customers need are available where and when they need them, all starting with the largest supply of premium-quality fibre in the world.
Find out more about our AI data centre innovations here.
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