The British startup promises to revolutionize cold storage with flexible optical technology, backward compatible with LTO systems, and energy-free at rest.
After more than seven decades of magnetic tape dominance, a new alternative is emerging as the natural successor for long-term cold storage. The UK-based company HoloMem has shared initial details about their innovative technology: a holographic optical tape in the form of a flexible “ribbon,” capable of storing up to 200 TB per cartridge, with a 50-year lifespan, and no power consumption when idle.
Their approach combines the high density and durability of optical media with the flexibility and familiar format of LTO tapes, aiming to replace current magnetic tape solutions seamlessly for data centers.
A solution for the era of massive data storage
HoloMem claims their cartridges surpass the specifications of today’s magnetic tapes. Compared to the 18 TB of LTO-10, their holographic optical tape more than elevenfold increases storage capacity in a shorter, tougher, and more stable medium. They also promise a lifespan ten times longer, with reduced degradation risks, eliminating the need for frequent rewinding or intensive climate control.
Key to their design is compatibility: the HoloDrive, their read/write unit, can integrate into existing LTO infrastructures without redesigning software or hardware. Cartridges are the same size as LTO tapes and work with current tape library robots, supporting a gradual adoption process.
Simple, low-cost technology
The operation relies on a 120-micron-thick tape made from inexpensive industrial polymers and a 16-micron central layer of photosensitive material. Holograms are recorded in multiple layers, enabling such high density that a single 100-meter tape can hold 200 TB.
The read/write head doesn’t require complex optical mechanisms; instead, it uses a standard $5 diode laser, explained Charlie Gale, founder of HoloMem and former Dyson engineer, in an interview with Blocks & Files. His experience developing holographic security labels at Dyson sparked this disruptive technology.
Furthermore, the technology is used in a WORM (Write Once, Read Many) model, ideal for archiving, regulatory compliance, and long-term digital preservation.
Competitors with more friction
While initiatives like Cerabyte or Microsoft’s Project Silica also explore optical storage for long-term archives, their solutions are based on rigid glass supports and more costly custom hardware. Conversely, HoloMem favors a modular, cost-effective approach that allows scaling without overhauling existing storage environments.
The prototype is currently being tested at data centers in the UK by TechRe Consultants, aiming to validate its reliability and performance. The company is backed by investors like Intel Ignite and Innovate UK, though no official launch date has been announced.
A potential new standard in cold storage
HoloMem’s potential lies not only in its technical innovation but also in its seamless integration into current enterprise storage chains. With a competitive cost per terabyte, a lifespan that reduces migratory efforts, and zero energy consumption when idle, holographic tape could become the new standard for long-term digital archives.
As data volumes continue to skyrocket annually—driven by AI, video, scientific research, and industrial applications—technologies like HoloMem aim to redefine the balance among capacity, durability, energy efficiency, and cost.
Technical specs of HoloMem (estimated data):
- Capacity per cartridge: 200 TB
- Estimated lifespan: 50 years
- Tape length: ~100 m
- Thickness: 120 microns
- Format: WORM
- Power in standby: 0 W
- Optical head: Diode laser (~$5)
- Compatibility: LTO systems, library robots, archival software
If successful, HoloMem will not only challenge LTO but also herald a new phase in cold storage: holographic, flexible, and energy-independent.
Sources: tomshardware and blocksandfiles