Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Notre Dame have collaborated to set a world record in the performance of quantum well light-emitting diode optical switches. Their gallium nitride quantum well micro-LED achieves an optical modulation bandwidth of 2.75 GHz while consuming only 25 mW of power, and is expected to offer a low-power alternative to lasers for short-reach optical interconnects in data centers. Currently, about 90% of communications in data centers are short-reach, high-frequency links within 10 meters, most of which rely on lasers that consume significant power and generate considerable heat. The 5-micron quantum well micro-LED combines high bandwidth, stable optical power, and low energy consumption, and its material platform is scalable, making it a promising candidate for improving the speed and efficiency of data center communication links.