Hollow-core fiber enters commercial use between Ningxia computing centers

Hollow-core optical fiber has been deployed commercially for the first time between intelligent computing centers in Zhongwei, Ningxia, about 30 km apart. Transmission latency and loss fell by more than 30%, with light traveling at 99.7% of its vacuum speed versus 69.5% in conventional fiber.

• Fiber is under 0.4 mm wide with 20 glass cylinders in its wall
• Light moves at 99.7% of vacuum speed vs 69.5% in standard fiber
• Latency and loss cut by over 30% on the 30-km link
• China Mobile, Telecom and Unicom opened first commercial lines in 2025