Lumenisity
Lumenisity is a UK-based photonics company that pioneered hollow-core optical fiber technology for ultra-low-latency communication. Acquired by Microsoft in 2022, it serves hyperscale data centers, telecom operators, and financial trading infrastructure customers through its parent company's Azure deployment channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersRomsey, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lumenisity does
Lumenisity, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Romsey, United Kingdom, is a photonics company that pioneered hollow-core fiber (HCF) technology for ultra-low-latency optical communication. The company's core product is hollow-core optical fiber that confines light to an air core rather than a conventional silica glass core, enabling signal propagation at approximately 99.7% of vacuum light speed — about 50% faster than standard fiber. The technology achieves signal attenuation as low as 0.11 dB/km and supports multi-band transmission with ultra-low nonlinearity, addressing latency-sensitive applications in financial trading infrastructure, hyperscale data centers, and telecom backbone networks.
Lumenisity operated a hardware sales revenue model prior to its 2022 acquisition by Microsoft, selling specialty fiber to telecom operators (Verizon, Comcast, SiFi Networks) and hyperscale cloud providers. Following the acquisition, Lumenisity functions as a wholly-owned Microsoft subsidiary, with its technology deployed through Microsoft's Azure infrastructure and Microsoft announcing a 15,000-kilometer HCF deployment commitment. The company holds an 18% global market share in the hollow-core fibers market, valued at USD 3.45 billion in 2026 and projected to reach USD 9.26 billion by 2035 at 11.4% CAGR. Pre-acquisition, Lumenisity raised approximately USD 16.6 million across two funding rounds led by Business Growth Fund and Parkwalk Advisors. Lumenisity currently operates with 51-100 employees and continues to develop HCF technology as part of Microsoft's infrastructure division, targeting AI workload interconnects, hyperscale cloud backbones, and high-frequency trading networks.
Lumenisity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lumenisity
- Legal name
- Lumenisity
- Website
- https://lumenisity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Lumenisity is a UK-based photonics company that pioneered hollow-core optical fiber technology for ultra-low-latency communication. Acquired by Microsoft in 2022, it serves hyperscale data centers, telecom operators, and financial trading infrastructure customers through its parent company's Azure deployment channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lumenisity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Optical Fiber & Cable
- NAICS
- Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334290)
- SIC
- Communications Equipment, Nec (3669), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable (IMADAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fiber Optic Cabling (Singlemode/Multimode) (HDAFALAB)
Keywords
Where Lumenisity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Romsey
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Lumenisity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Hollow-core fiber technology deployment: Lumenisity develops and commercializes hollow-core fiber technology for telecommunications, data centers, and specialized applications requiring ultra-low latency. Following Microsoft's 2022 acquisition, the technology is deployed through Microsoft's infrastructure network.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Lumenisity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lumenisity designs and manufactures hollow-core fiber (HCF) cables that transmit light through an air core rather than solid silica, enabling signal propagation at 99.7% of vacuum light speed and reducing latency by up to 50% versus standard fiber. The product targets ultra-low latency applications including hyperscale data center interconnects, telecom backbone networks, financial trading infrastructure, and quantum communications.
Product overview
Lumenisity is a pioneer in hollow-core fiber (HCF) technology, acquired by Microsoft in 2022. The company specializes in optical fiber products that confine light to an air core rather than a solid silica core, enabling signal propagation speeds reaching 99.7% of vacuum light speed. Their product portfolio centers on hollow-core fiber solutions for ultra-low latency optical communication applications across data centers, telecom backbones, financial trading networks, and quantum technology. The technology reduces latency by up to 50% compared to conventional solid-core fibers while achieving attenuation as low as 0.11 dB/km.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hollow-Core Fiber (HCF)
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% latency reduction compared to traditional silica fiber
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lumenisity
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lumenisity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Lumenisity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lumenisity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OFS (Furukawa Electric): Direct competitor in hollow-core fiber, cited as holding 14% global market share. OFS is a long-established specialty fiber manufacturer and the most head-to-head comparable in the HCF category.
Broad incumbents
- Corning: World's largest optical fiber and cable manufacturer with broad product portfolio. Competes in low-loss, high-data-rate fiber; relevant incumbent benchmarking Lumenisity's HCF performance claims.
- Sumitomo Electric: Major Japanese fiber and cable manufacturer with active investments in next-generation specialty fibers. Comparable on telecom-grade optical fiber supply and innovation pipeline.
- Prysmian Group: Global cable and optical fiber manufacturer serving telecom and data center markets. Comparable as a large-scale supplier of fiber infrastructure to carriers and hyperscalers.
- Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (YOFC): Largest optical fiber manufacturer globally by volume, with growing specialty fiber capabilities. Relevant comparable on fiber manufacturing scale and cost competitiveness.
- CommScope: Major supplier of fiber optic cabling and connectivity solutions to data centers and telecom operators. Comparable on enterprise/telecom fiber deployment channels.
- Nexans: European cable manufacturer with optical fiber portfolio serving telecom and data infrastructure. Comparable as a broad incumbent in fiber and connectivity.
Regional players
- Sterlite Technologies: Indian-headquartered fiber optic cable and solutions provider with global footprint, primarily serving emerging markets. Comparable as a specialty fiber manufacturer with data center exposure.
Emerging players
- Coherent Corp (II-VI / Finisar): Optical communications components and subsystems supplier. Comparable as a partner/supplier to optical network builders and as an enabler of high-speed optical interconnect.
Others
- Lumentum: Photonics and optical networking component supplier serving telecom and data center markets. Comparable as an adjacent optics player enabling next-generation low-latency optical networks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lumenisity social profiles
Digital presenceLumenisity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lumenisity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Lumenisity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lumenisity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lumenisity
What does Lumenisity do?
Lumenisity designs and manufactures hollow-core fiber (HCF) cables that transmit light through an air core rather than solid silica, enabling signal propagation at 99.7% of vacuum light speed and reducing latency by up to 50% versus standard fiber. The product targets ultra-low latency applications including hyperscale data center interconnects, telecom backbone networks, financial trading infrastructure, and quantum communications.
Is Lumenisity a public or private company?
Lumenisity is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Lumenisity founded?
Lumenisity was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Lumenisity based?
Lumenisity is headquartered in Romsey, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Lumenisity make money?
One revenue line is on record: hollow-core fiber technology deployment.
Who are Lumenisity's main competitors?
OFS (Furukawa Electric) is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Corning, Sumitomo Electric, Prysmian Group, Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (YOFC), CommScope and Nexans. Sterlite Technologies is listed as a regional player. Coherent Corp (II-VI / Finisar) is listed as an emerging player. Lumentum is listed as an others.
Does Lumenisity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lumenisity.
What industry is Lumenisity in?
Lumenisity's product category is Optical Fiber & Cable. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAMAD, Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable, with a secondary code of HDAFALAB, Fiber Optic Cabling (Singlemode/Multimode). Its NAICS code is 335921 and its SIC code is 3669.