Frozen Light using 19th-century physics for 'forever' archival video storage

This technology addresses the critical durability gap in the streaming tech stack by replacing decaying magnetic media with permanent physical waveforms. Immediate implications include a significant reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO) for legacy back-catalogs, as it eliminates the need for decadal data migration. In the broader ecosystem, it competes with emerging cold storage alternatives like Microsoft’s Project Silica and DNA-based archiving. Watch for specific throughput benchmarks or the announcement of a pilot partnership with a major streaming studio to validate commercial scalability.

The push for permanent archival storage is accelerating as media libraries reach petabyte scales. Per TechRadar in February 2026, Microsoft recently achieved a breakthrough with Project Silica, shifting from expensive fused silica to low-cost borosilicate glass to store 2.02TB of data for over 10,000 years. This transition to kitchenware-grade glass significantly lowers the barrier to entry for large-scale media publishers seeking durable alternatives to magnetic tape, which typically requires a refresh every 7 to 15 years.

Simultaneously, the competitive landscape for non-magnetic storage is diversifying through ceramic and biological media. Per Forbes in January 2026, Munich-based startup Cerabyte is validating its ceramic-on-glass technology, which uses femtosecond lasers to etch data into ultra-thin ceramic layers that can withstand extreme heat and salt water. These industrial-grade solutions target a market where nearly 30% of large media companies expect their libraries to exceed five petabytes by late 2026, according to the State of Media Archiving Report.

Furthermore, DNA storage is transitioning from research to pilot phases. Per a June 2026 report from Credence Research, the DNA data archiving market is projected to reach $5.2 billion by 2032. Major players like Biomemory are acquiring assets to streamline DNA synthesis and sequencing, aiming for high-density preservation of high-value cultural and historical archives. These developments collectively signal a shift away from 'warm' archival tiers involving recurring maintenance toward 'immutable' media that consumes zero energy at rest.