Relativity Networks raises $22 million for hollow-core fiber linking data centers
On Tuesday, Relativity Networks announced it raised $22 million in SAFE note funding from Rhapsody Venture Partners, Bell Ventures Inc., Faster Than Glass LLC, and others to commercialize hollow-core fiber for data center interconnection. The rarely deployed technology transmits data about 30% faster than conventional fiber by guiding light through a vacuum rather than glass, reducing latency for multi-campus AI clusters. The company also secured a $40 million follow-on order from a leading hyperscaler that declined to be named. The raise signals growing capital interest in inter-campus connectivity as operators seek to unify distributed training resources across physical distance. However, the unnamed hyperscaler customer and the early-stage deployment status of hollow-core fiber leave scale and adoption timelines uncertain.
Relativity Networks raises $22 million for hollow-core fiber linking data centers
On Tuesday, Relativity Networks announced $22 million in SAFE note funding drawn by Rhapsody Venture Partners, Bell Ventures Inc., and Faster Than Glass LLC, among others. The company also secured a $40 million follow-on order from a leading hyperscaler that declined to be named for this piece.
Key takeaway
Hollow-core fiber is drawing venture capital and hyperscaler orders as operators pursue faster inter-campus links for distributed AI training.
What happened
On Tuesday, Relativity Networks announced $22 million in SAFE note funding drawn by Rhapsody Venture Partners, Bell Ventures Inc., and Faster Than Glass LLC, among others, to commercialize hollow-core fiber linking data centers.
The company also secured a $40 million follow-on order from a leading hyperscaler that declined to be named. Relativity Networks deals in hollow-core fiber, a rarely deployed technology that allows data to be transmitted 30% faster than conventional fiber.
Evidence
Relativity Networks announced $22 million in SAFE note funding on Tuesday.
TechCrunch AI · attributed
On Tuesday, Relativity Networks announced $22 million in SAFE note funding drawn by Rhapsody Venture Partners, Bell Ventures Inc., and Faster Than Glass LLC, among others.
Relativity Networks secured a $40 million follow-on order from an unnamed leading hyperscaler.
TechCrunch AI · attributed
The company also secured a $40 million follow-on order from a leading hyperscaler that declined to be named for this piece.
Hollow-core fiber transmits data about 30% faster than conventional fiber.
TechCrunch AI · attributed
Relativity Networks deals in hollow-core fiber, a rarely deployed technology that allows data to be transmitted 30% faster than conventional fiber.
Hollow-core fiber transmits light through a vacuum rather than glass, reducing latency.
TechCrunch AI · attributed
Relativity Networks raised $22 million to commercialize hollow-core fiber, which transmits light through a vacuum rather than glass, significantly reducing latency.
Why it matters
Inter-campus latency constrains how far AI training clusters can spread geographically; faster fiber links could widen viable multi-site training footprints.
Limits and uncertainties
The leading hyperscaler that placed the $40 million follow-on order declined to be named for this piece.
Hollow-core fiber is described as a rarely deployed technology, leaving commercial adoption scale and timelines unclear.
Practical implications
Operators planning multi-campus AI clusters may benchmark hollow-core fiber against conventional inter-data-center links for latency-sensitive distributed training.
Venture and hyperscaler capital flowing into hollow-core fiber signals demand for lower-latency inter-campus connectivity beyond raw compute expansion.
What to watch
Whether Relativity Networks or competitors announce named hyperscaler deployments or production-scale hollow-core routes beyond the reported order.
Additional commercial orders or deployment milestones that confirm hollow-core fiber moving from rare deployment to routine inter-data-center use.
