Microsoft paves the way for greener data centers with MicroLED cabling

Microsoft researchers (with Azure teams) proposed a microLED-based cabling system using imaging fiber to carry thousands of parallel data channels inside data centers, promising lower energy use (about 50% less), lower cost, and longer lifespan compared with laser-based fiber; the technology, designed to pair with Hollow Core Fiber for long-distance, low-latency links, is expected to be commercialized with industry partners by late 2027 and could reduce datacenter power needs while enabling denser, faster intra-datacenter networking.