Pilot Photonics - Full Version - Big Ideas 2010 - Enterprise Ireland

The volume of data carried in optical communication
networks is increasing due to the increased use of
video applications and the surge in cloud computing.
Datacentres have huge volumes of data flowing internally
and externally in fibres. Fibre to the home is imminent
in several countries. Metropolitan areas and backbone
already use fibre but need to accommodate more data in
each fibre.

There is a clear need to put more data through each
fibre (i.e. improving its spectral efficiency) rather than
installing more fibre. Methods proposed include advanced
modulation techniques, multiple wavelengths in each fibre
and dynamic reconfiguration of the network using tunable
lasers to assign capacity where most needed.
Researchers from the Radio and Optical Communications
Laboratory in DCU under the guidance of Prof. Liam Barry
and Dr. Philip Perry have developed a unique capability
to switch and re-route spectrally efficient data paths
carrying multiple streams of 10 Gbps data in less than 100
nanoseconds.

Pilot Photonics, a proposed spin-out from this group, will
produce optical transceiver products that will enable the
development of fast switching, high capacity, low energy
nodes that will form the fabric of next generation fibre
optic communication.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Enterprise Ireland
• Enterprise
• Ireland
• Innovation
• Big Ideas Showcase 2010
• Big Ideas 2010
• Big Ideas
• DCU
• Pilot Photonics