Hyperscale data centers are expanding at an unprecedented pace. The explosive growth of AI, cloud services, and high-performance computing is driving demand not only for higher bandwidth, but for infrastructure that can be deployed and scaled faster than ever before. In this environment, deployment speed and operational reliability have become just as critical as raw performance.
Traditional fiber connectivity, while proven, is increasingly becoming a constraint. Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) connectors offer a compelling alternative—one that reduces installation complexity, minimizes maintenance, and enables faster, more resilient hyperscale network expansion.
As AI adoption accelerates, hyperscale operators face relentless pressure to bring capacity online quickly. Delays caused by labor shortages, installation errors, or fiber contamination can translate directly into lost revenue and missed opportunities.
Conventional multi-fiber connectors, such as MPO, rely on precise physical contact between fibers. At scale, this requirement introduces friction: connectors must be carefully cleaned, inspected, aligned, and tested. When multiplied across thousands—or tens of thousands—of fiber endpoints, even small inefficiencies can extend deployment timelines by weeks.
Expanded Beam Optical connectors eliminate many of these bottlenecks. By transmitting light across a small air gap rather than through direct fiber-to-fiber contact, EBO dramatically reduces sensitivity to contamination and alignment errors. In real-world deployments using advanced EBO ferrule designs, installation time has been reduced by up to 85%*, largely by removing the need for repeated cleaning and inspection.
For hyperscale operators, the focus is shifting from simply maximizing fiber counts to accelerating reliable installation at scale. Technologies that shorten deployment cycles without compromising performance provide a clear operational advantage.
Increasing fiber density has long been a defining challenge in hyperscale environments. As port counts rise, so do the risks of congestion, insertion loss, and signal degradation. Traditional multi-fiber connectors demand careful handling and precise alignment, making dense deployments labor-intensive and prone to error.
EBO’s non-contact optical interface fundamentally changes this equation. By expanding the optical beam before transmission, EBO reduces sensitivity to dust and mechanical tolerances. This design allows high-density cabling systems to be deployed more efficiently, without the constant concern of maintaining pristine fiber end faces.
Unlike spring-loaded ferrules used in traditional connectors—which can degrade with repeated mating cycles—EBO’s free-space optical path remains stable over thousands of connections. As hyperscale networks move toward 224G signaling and prepare for future 448G lanes, EBO offers the density, stability, and scalability required for 800G and 1.6T system architectures.
In high-density networks, reliability is defined by the weakest connection. Over time, traditional fiber connectors are vulnerable to contamination and wear caused by repeated physical contact. Even microscopic debris can increase insertion loss and degrade link performance.
EBO minimizes these risks by eliminating direct fiber contact. The collimated beam passes across a short, contactless gap, protecting the optical interface from wear and reducing susceptibility to contamination. The result is more consistent performance over the life of the connection.
In addition, EBO connectors can consolidate up to 144 fibers in a single interface, reducing the number of connections required per rack. Fewer connectors translate to improved airflow, lower thermal stress, and fewer potential failure points—key advantages in dense, power-hungry hyperscale environments.
Expanded Beam Optical technology is supported by a growing, multi-vendor ecosystem focused on performance, scalability, and supply chain resilience. Industry leaders are collaborating to integrate EBO into large-scale data center architectures while avoiding single-source dependencies.
Through IP licensing and shared manufacturing models, EBO availability is expanding, giving hyperscale operators greater flexibility in sourcing and long-term infrastructure planning. This ecosystem-driven approach reduces vendor lock-in and supports the rapid, global deployment cycles demanded by hyperscale environments.
Trycay VersaBeam EBO Interconnect Solutions are engineered for the realities of high-speed, high-density data centers. By supporting up to 144 fibers per connector, VersaBeam helps reduce rack congestion and simplify network architecture.
The system’s total internal reflection (TIR) lens design delivers insertion loss of less than 0.7 dB (single-mode) and 0.3 dB (multi-mode), with return loss exceeding 55 dB (SM) and 25 dB (MM). A push-pull connector mechanism further streamlines installation, reducing handling errors and improving efficiency in dense rack environments.
Hyperscale data centers are not just growing—they are accelerating. AI workloads, increasing fiber density, and the demand for rapid deployment are redefining how infrastructure must be designed and built.
Trycay is advancing Expanded Beam Optical technology to meet these challenges, combining deep optical engineering expertise with global manufacturing scale and active participation in industry standards development. EBO’s long-standing success in aerospace and industrial applications demonstrates its durability in demanding environments—experience that Trycay is now applying to hyperscale data center networks.
By reducing installation time, minimizing maintenance, and enabling faster expansion, EBO helps data centers scale more efficiently. Realizing its full potential, however, requires a robust ecosystem and thoughtful integration into hyperscale architectures.
Trycay is committed to building that ecosystem—working closely with hyperscalers, system architects, and partners to ensure fiber upgrades are seamless, reliable, and non-disruptive. As data centers evolve, connectivity should enable progress, not slow it down.
* Installation time reduction is based on documented testing during select customer deployments using 3M Expanded Beam Optical technology. Results may vary depending on environment and deployment conditions.
