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Science & Technology · 6 Intermediate · September 23, 2026

Data Centres Turn to Light Instead of Copper Wires

Data Centres Turn to Light Instead of Copper Wires
Photo: Brett Sayles via Pexels

Vocabulary

data centres /ˈdeɪtə ˈsentərz/ noun
large facilities that store and process computer information
Data centres process vast amounts of information every day, using hundreds of tonnes of copper wire.
fibre optic systems /ˈfaɪbər ˈɑːptɪk ˈsɪstəmz/ noun
technology that uses light traveling through thin glass cables to transmit data and information
Engineers are now replacing these wires with fibre optic systems that use light instead of electrons.
photonics /fəˈtɑːnɪks/ noun
the science and technology of using light particles called photons to transmit information
The technology, called photonics, sends data as photons of light rather than electrical signals through copper cables.

Article

Data centres process vast amounts of information every day, using hundreds of tonnes of copper wire to deliver electrical power and transmit data. However, industry leaders believe copper's role is ending not because supplies are running out, but because a better technology exists. These facilities face a challenge: the copper wires connecting computer servers create heat and slow down data transmission. Engineers are now replacing these wires with fibre optic systems that use light instead of electrons.

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