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SPhotonix, a UK startup founded in 2024 as a spin-off from the University of Southampton, plans to initiate pilot projects for its 5D Memory Crystal technology in data centers over the next two years. This technology utilizes silica glass disks to achieve unprecedented data storage density, with a single 5-inch disk capable of holding up to 360TB.

The data is written using a femtosecond laser, encoding information in nanostructures across five dimensions. SPhotonix claims the data could remain intact for 13.8 billion years. However, challenges remain regarding system-level performance, including access times and operational costs. The upcoming pilot projects are critical to determining the practical viability of this storage solution within European and Italian markets, where energy efficiency and long-term sustainability are increasingly important.