The British startup HoloMem has burst onto the cold storage market with a revolutionary proposition: a flexible holographic optical tape in the shape of a ribbon, designed to offer a capacity of up to 200 TB per cartridge. This innovative system promises a 50-year lifespan and operates without energy consumption when idle, features that could displace traditional magnetic tape.
HoloMem technology combines the high density and durability of optical media with the flexible format of LTO tapes, guaranteeing seamless compatibility for data centers. This solution seeks to surpass the limitations of current magnetic tapes, such as LTO-10, by offering storage capacity 11 times greater and substantially greater longevity, all without the need for rewinding or intensive climate control.
Compatibility is a key aspect of this proposal, as HoloMem's HoloDrive facilitates its integration into existing LTO infrastructures, allowing the cartridges to retain the same size and be compatible with the current transport robots. This ensures a smooth transition to the new technology.
The support consists of a 120-micron-thick tape, with a central layer of photosensitive material 16 microns thick where holograms are recorded in multiple layers. This is achieved with a standard diode laser, which reduces production costs. The technology is based on a WORM model, ideal for long-term data archiving and for complying with retention regulations.
In a market where other players, such as Cerabyte and Microsoft's Project Silica, are also exploring optical solutions, HoloMem stands out for its modular and cost-effective approach. Its competitors tend to rely on rigid supports and expensive hardware, while HoloMem focuses on a solution that allows scaling without major redesigns.
Currently, the HoloMem prototype is being tested in data centers in the United Kingdom by TechRe Consultants, with backing from investors such as Intel Ignite and Innovate UK, although there is still no official launch date.
The promise of HoloMem lies not only in its innovative technological capability, but in its potential to integrate seamlessly into the current storage chains. With a competitive price per terabyte and a design that eliminates the need for constant migrations, this technology could establish itself as the new standard for the long-term digital archive, especially in the context of exponential growth in data volume driven by artificial intelligence and other areas.
With capacity, durability, energy efficiency and costs as its main advantages, HoloMem seems to position itself as a key player in redefining conventional cold storage.
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