WOLON Launches HCF (Hollow-Core) Fiber Optical Patch Cord — Ultra-low Latency Patch Cords For Data Centers, HFT And HPC

 WOLON Communications today announces the release of its new HCF (Hollow-Core Fiber) Fiber Optical Patch Cord, a short-reach, connectorized patch solution built on hollow-core fiber technology to deliver substantially lower latency, lower nonlinearity and improved thermal/radiation robustness compared with conventional silica single-mode patch cords.

Hollow-core fiber guides light predominantly through air rather than glass. That fundamental change makes HCF attractive for latency-sensitive links (intra-data-center/inter-rack), high-frequency trading (HFT) routes, HPC clusters and specialized sensing/laser delivery where every microsecond, nonlinear distortion and environmental stability matter. Recent industry reports show HCF can improve propagation speed by roughly 45–50% compared with standard silica fiber and is being advanced rapidly toward practical, low-loss designs.

what WOLON HCF Patch Cords deliver

Significant latency reduction for short links - light travels faster in air-filled cores than in glass, giving measurable microsecond savings per km (especially valuable on ultra-low-latency routes). 

Low nonlinearity & high damage threshold - ideal for high-power pulse delivery, ultrafast lasers and RF-sensitive applications.

Improved environmental tolerance - lower thermal and radiation sensitivity than solid silica fibers for harsh environments (aerospace, defense, sensing). 

Commercial readiness & proven use cases - hollow-core products are already offered and field-deployed for low-latency networks and specialized interconnects. WOLON's patch cords are engineered for connectorized, plug-and-play use with standard terminations. 

Representative product overview

Product name: WOLON HCF Fiber Optical Patch Cord
Fiber type: Hollow-core (anti-resonant / photonic-bandgap style - vendor variant)
Connectors: LC/SC/FC/UPC or APC on request; MPO options for multi-core trunking available
Jacket options: LSZH, OFNR, PVC; tight-buffered 0.9 mm or 2.0 mm outer jacket options
Lengths: 0.3 m - 100 m (custom lengths available)
Insertion loss (typ.): connector dominated (typical single-end connector IL ≤ 0.5 dB; end-to-end insertion loss depends on exact length & splice/termination method) - note: bulk fiber attenuation records reported in literature are already <0.11 dB/km in latest designs, but practical patch cord loss is dominated by connectors/splices. 
Return loss: ≥55 dB (UPC) / ≥60 dB (APC) typical (custom QC tested)
Operating wavelengths: models available for 1310 nm and 1550 nm bands (custom wavelength ranges available by design).
Temperature range: −40 °C to +85 °C (depending on jacket)
Quality & testing: 100% end-to-end IL test, end-face inspection, length verification and labeling; available with traceable test reports on request.

Note: above numbers are representative for a connectorized HCF patch product roadmap; lab results and leading-edge fibers have reported record low bulk attenuation (~0.09–0.11 dB/km) - WOLON's patch cords are engineered to balance real-world connectors, splices and handling with these new fiber capabilities.

Typical applications

Intra-data-center links where every microsecond matters (top-of-rack to aggregation).

High-frequency trading and financial backbones that require ultra-low one-way latency.

High-performance computing (HPC) clusters and AI training networks seeking reduced latency and low nonlinear effects.

Scientific, sensing and laser-delivery systems requiring low dispersion and high damage thresholds.

Why choose WOLON's HCF patch cord vs conventional SMF patch cords

Latency advantage - air-filled guidance reduces refractive delay. Practical gain depends on link length and network architecture; even short spans can matter in HFT or synchronous HPC environments.

Cleaner signal at high power - much lower nonlinearities than silica mean better performance for intense pulses and amplification stages.

Customization & testability - WOLON provides connectorization, polishing type (UPC/APC), jacket selection and full test reports for integration into production racks.

Field-proven suppliers & ecosystem - HCF is moving from lab to production; WOLON partners with experienced hollow-core fiber vendors and system integrators to ensure reliable field behavior.