Molex addresses hyperscale data centre growth

This robust product portfolio leverages the 3M EBO Ferrule, which expands the beam between connectors to reduce sensitivity to dust and debris, while dramatically decreasing the need for frequent cleaning, inspection, and maintenance.

With VersaBeam EBO technology, faster deployment speeds can be achieved because fewer connections are required, reducing installation time and complexity. “The best designs often are the simplest, which is true with Molex VersaBeam EBO connectors as customers can make reliable connections with one click,” said Trevor Smith, General Manager, Optical Connectivity, Molex. “No special skillsets are needed to install these connectors, empowering organisations to rapidly reap the performance and cost benefits of resilient, scalable fibre connectivity.”

Next-gen connectors for tomorrow’s data centres

To keep pace with the unrelenting rise of AI-driven capacity increases, data centre providers must continually upgrade bandwidth while minimising infrastructure changes. Ideally suited for intra-rack and server connections, Molex’s VersaBeam EBO technology fits more fibres into a very small form factor (VSFF) to maximise rack-unit usage and minimise space.

“Expanded Beam Optical connectors are the future of high-speed, resilient data centre infrastructure,” said Kevin Twomey, Global Portfolio Director, Electronics Materials Solution Division, 3M. “We are excited to collaborate with Molex to transform multi-fibre connectivity in data centres. This technology is a game-changer compared to traditional connectors – significantly reducing contamination risks while boosting deployment speed and performance.”

Molex’s VersaBeam EBO connectors deliver high-fibre density without spring-force limitations, enabling optimal alignment and plug-and-play assembly. They are available in single- and multi-mode options, including 12- and 16-fibre connectors, as well as high-density connectors with as many as 144 fibres per connector, to facilitate more flexible system designs, easier cable routing in space-constrained environments, and expedited data centre turn-ups.

Faster, easier deployment leads to reduced TCO

VersaBeam EBO connectors do not require a lot of effort or expertise to deploy and maintain, which alleviates current concerns over labour shortages of highly skilled data centre technicians. Moreover, both termination times and component counts are reduced, which saves operational expenses, lowers supply chain complexity and produces turn-up time savings for reduced TCO.

“Molex’s VersaBeam EBO brings tremendous value by removing the struggle of connecting our data centre infrastructure while simplifying cleaning and inspecting every connection at a lower power density,” said Dave Boertjes, Senior Director, Advanced Photonic Networks R&D, Ciena. “By utilising VersaBeam EBO, we achieved a 6X time reduction in inspection cleaning, which is critical to speeding deployments and keeping pace with the current landscape.”

During a 3M customer field test of EBO connectors with a hyperscale data centre customer, similar time savings were realised when compared to the deployment of conventional MPO connectors. For 3M’s test, the elimination of cleaning and inspection yielded a total time savings of 85%, totalling more than six hours in reduced deployment time.

Product availability

Molex’s VersaBeam EBO Interconnect Solutions family is now available.

Molex optical connectivity solutions showcase at OFC 2025

Molex’s new VersaBeam EBO Connectors will be featured at OFC 2025, booth 5945, April 1-3^rd in San Francisco. Molex optical experts will be on hand to address this latest product innovation and share how the company’s vast connector capabilities are designed to increase data centre fibre density faster and more easily. Molex also will highlight broader strategies for driving data centre efficiencies alongside top technology collaborators, including 3M, Commscope, SENKO Advanced Components, Inc, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd and US Conec.