Holographic tape finally leaves the lab as 200TB cartridges run inside real LTO libraries without breaking workflows
- Holographic tape operated in a production LTO library without infrastructure changes
- Live application software accesses holographic media using standard tape library workflows
- Cartridge dimensions match LTO, allowing robotic handling without modification
A UK startup has tested a holographic tape storage system in a working LTO tape library, demonstrating that it can work in existing data center setups.
The test performed by HoloMem involved actual software writing data to the system and reading it back through normal tape library operations.
Traditional LTO drives and holographic drives worked side by side in the same library, which is important because many storage ideas fail outside of controlled test environments.
Testing shifts focus from concept to deployability
The system uses polymer tape cartridges that match the size and shape of standard LTO tapes. As a result, the tape library’s robotic arm can move and load them without any physical modification.
Holographic drives fit into the library as shelves, allowing the robot to choose between LTO tapes and holographic cartridges based on the demand it receives.
On the software side, everything appears as a unified system rather than separate platforms.
Each cartridge is designed to hold up to 200TB of write-once and read-once data in multiple formats, meaning data can be stored permanently and accessed repeatedly.
The storage method relies on layered holographic recording using relatively inexpensive laser components.
Its capacity is a design goal for production hardware rather than a laboratory maximum, and the WORM feature aligns with compliance-driven archiving requirements.
Longevity claims extend beyond 50 years, although deployment has focused on functional functioning rather than accelerated validation of aging.
The value of testing lies less in raw density than in demonstrated compatibility, as many alternative archival media platforms require new library designs, new management systems, or new software layers, slowing procurement and certification.
In this case, the holographic player was added to an existing tape library without replacing hardware or rewriting software.
HoloMem says this result supports its plans to progress towards commercial readiness, with more pilot deployments planned while technical work continues through 2026.
“This is a major step forward for the commercial viability of future cold data storage, and the results are very promising,” said Charlie Gale, founder and CEO of HoloMem.
“New technology solutions must integrate with existing infrastructure in order to realize their potential, and we are pleased to have successfully demonstrated the deployability of HoloDrive within the BDT library.
Mass production of the drive hardware is planned for 2027, putting this system closer to everyday use than silica or ceramic storage technologies that remain difficult to integrate into data centers.
“What HoloMem has achieved is so impressive. By developing a plug-and-play holographic solution compatible with our tape libraries, HoloDrive enables many use cases for many industry players,” said Marc Steinhilber, CEO of BDT Media Automation GmbH.
The test does not prove long-term reliability or cost-effectiveness at scale, but it does show that holographic tape can be added as an additional storage layer without disrupting current systems.
Based on what has been demonstrated so far, its credibility depends on the ability of the production hardware to perform in the same manner as in this actual deployment.
Via Blocks and files
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