Relativity Networks Raises $22 Million to Scale Hollow-Core Fiber

Relativity Networks is commercializing hollow-core fiber for data centers, transmitting light through a near-vacuum central channel rather than solid glass. The design can increase data-transmission speeds by about 30% while cutting latency. That matters as artificial-intelligence workloads push operators to build larger, more geographically dispersed computing campuses, often farther from established network hubs to secure power and land. Faster links could widen those location choices without imposing the same performance penalty.

Relativity Networks said on Aug. 19, 2026, that it raised $22 million to expand manufacturing and deployment of its hollow-core fiber. The company also disclosed a $40 million order from an unidentified major hyperscale cloud provider, offering a significant commercial validation of the technology. The financing and customer commitment position the startup to move beyond research and field trials as cloud operators seek lower-latency connections for rapidly expanding AI infrastructure.