NEWS: UPDATE


CITYFIBRE BRINGS FULL FIBRE CONNECTIVITY TO CHELTENHAM BUSINESSES


UK alternative provider CityFibre is bringing its gigabit speed full-fibre network to businesses in Cheltenham, UK. Te new infrastructure is designed to allow more than 200


Cheltenham businesses within 200m of the network to access the provider’s gigabit-capable internet services, offered through its launch partner Bamboo Technology Group. Paul North, head of sales for CityFibre’s wholesale business, said:


‘We are thrilled to work alongside our launch partner Bamboo to bring our gigabit-speed full fibre network to Cheltenham. Tis means the town can take advantage of some of the fastest download and upload speeds in the world, unlocking a host of productivity benefits.’ Bamboo’s manager director, Lorrin White, added: ‘It’s wonderful to


be involved with the core infrastructure that has been implemented to future-proof Cheltenham and the business community that supports it.’


PROJECT GAINS FUNDING FOR SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION PROCESSES


A project designed to scale-up novel compound semiconductor device fabrication processes has received European funding via the Avenues of Commercialisation for Nano and Micro Technologies (ACNM) initiative. A collaboration between


Swansea University, the Compound Semiconductor Centre (CSC) and CST Global, it should result in a number of new fabrication processes. Te first process under


consideration, explained Susannah Heck, principal device development engineer at CST Global, is a low cost, high specification, semiconductor laser chip manufacturing platorm utilising Substrate Conformal Imprint Lithography (SCIL), initially developed at the Centre for NanoHealth (CNH). She said: ‘An Innovate UK-


funded project has already demonstrated that a SCIL-based,


8 FiBRE SYSTEMS n Issue 25 n Autumn 2019


Distributed Feedback (DFB) laser manufacturing platorm can deliver a 30 per cent cost reduction, with no loss of performance. ACNM funding will enable commercialisation of the SCIL- based process, including increasing on-wafer yield and facilitating its move from a 3- to 4-inch epitaxial wafer platorm. Tese lasers would typically be used in high-volume markets, such as fibre to the premises, high capacity, optical communication links in data- centres and as coherent sources for trace gas sensing.’ Te second fabrication process


aims to develop a high volume, chip-scale packaging concept for the integration of compound semiconductor devices on flexible substrates. Printed, conductive track processes, developed at Te Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating (WCPC), will be used to deliver wire-bond free, conformal interconnects in Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) devices. Heck said: ‘Tese devices


are used for a broad range of applications, from the integration of GaAs sensors in the high pressure (50MPa), SMART gaskets used in critical pipework joints, through to the low-cost assembly of LEDs in flexible, wearable products for the cosmetic and healthcare markets. Tey are also in flexible, large area, LED displays.’


LUXEMBOURG-CIX CHOOSES ADVA FOR 400G BACKBONE UPGRADE


Luxembourg Commercial Internet Exchange (LU-CIX) has selected ADVA’s FSP 3000 optical transport solution with QuadFlex technology to enable connectivity of up to 400Gb/s to its national internet exchange backbone, interconnecting points of presence in four major data centres. ‘Recently, we’ve seen


astronomical growth in data demand and deploying 400Gb/s technology in our network is a major part of our response,’ explained Claude Demuth, CEO, LU-CIX management GIE. Te decision was taken thanks


to the scalability, compact footprint and energy efficiency of the technology. ADVA’s partner Telindus, a brand of Proximus Luxembourg, played a key role in the project, ensuring that the technology interworks with existing infrastructure for a seamless transition to 400Gbit/s. Yann Evain, senior director,


sales, Benelux, ADVA said: ‘LU-CIX is a key gateway to multimedia,


ICT and communication markets in Luxembourg, in the heart of Europe. With the speed, scalability and superb efficiency of our technology in its backbone network, it will continue to be a pivotal connectivity resource for internet service providers, content delivery networks and businesses for many years to come. Together with our partner Telindus Luxembourg, we’ve built a network that increases the value of Luxembourg as a key ICT hub and empowers LU-CIX to continue supporting the internet community from the heart of Europe.’


EKINOPS OTN ACQUISITION TO TRIPLE OPTICAL SALES


Ekinops has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the OTN-Switch (Optical Transport Network) platorm developed by Brazil-based Padtec, in a deal financed its cash resources (€14.2m net cash at December 31, 2018) and debt. Te company raised €6.5m of bank loans in Q2 of 2019 and plans to


carry out a capital increase by private placement over the coming weeks, for an amount capped at 10 per cent of the capital stock. With the deal, Ekinops expects to be able to offer a complete OTN/


DWDM solution for optical networks from early 2020, enabling flexible data traffic and support for the evolution of data speeds and protocols transmited over 200-400G modulated optical wavelengths, eventually reaching 1Tb/s (terabit per second). Tis will enable the company to target the major operator core networks market segment, with the objective to triple its optical transport product sales in five years. Te transaction will also allow Ekinops to acquire OTN technology and


a research and development team of 25 engineers based in Campinas, near Sao Paulo (Brazil) for €10m in cash. Brazilian operations will be overseen by Jean-Luc Pamart, co-founder of Ekinops and VP of research and development for optical transport. Padtec CEO Manuel Andrade said: ‘Te acquisition of the OTN-Switch


Platorm by a globally recognised firm such as Ekinops is validation of the capability of Padtec’s engineers to develop state-of-the-art technologies deployable worldwide. Tis is a win-win agreement for both companies.’ Didier Brédy, chairman and CEO at Ekinops, said: ‘Te agreements


allow Padtec to source the OTN products it needs from Ekinops. Tis major strategic acquisition means that Ekinops can target to triple its sales of optical transport products in five years.’


www.fibre-systems.com @fibresystemsmag


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44