FEATURE OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
SIGNALLING A HIGH-CAPACITY FUTURE
The next generation of optical communications networks will need to provide the capacity required to support ever-increasing bandwidth demand, and do so without cost or sustainability compromises. Keely Portway asks: can this delicate balance be struck?
the optical technology at the core of these networks is just as crucial in ensuring that they are future-proofed for next-generation applications.
Coherent optical components Coherent optics, for example, have become popular thanks to their ability to modulate the amplitude and phase of light, as well as transmit across two polarisations, meaning that more information can travel through a fibre optic cable. When I first entered the world of optical communications, the 2018 OFC Conference played host to a number of new coherent optical engines featuring digital signal processing (DSP) technology, which hit headlines because they could transport up to 800Gbps capacity-per-wavelength. The 2023 iteration of the event was the launch- pad of many of the next generation of coherent DSPs, which are now able to reach 1.2 and 1.6Tbps. The move to terabit represents a really substantial leap forward in data transmis- sion rates, allowing networks to better handle unprecedented amounts of data, and enable faster and more reliable communi- cation across long distances. This could have significant implications for telecoms, but also for industries and applications including cloud computing, data centres, and scientific research. Coherent optical telecoms networks with such high capacities can allow for seamless streaming of high-definition video content, ultra-fast internet access, and uninterrupted voice communication, allowing service pro- viders to meet the ever-increasing demands of their customers, providing a superior user experience with minimal latency and network congestion. For data centres and cloud computing
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f the past three years have done nothing else, they have certainly thrown optical communications into the spotlight in a big way. The need for stable, reliable,
high-bandwidth networks was hugely emphasised by the need to work and learn at home, stay entertained indoors and spend time with family and friends remotely. But, despite life having finally returned to a degree of normality post- pandemic, the need for high levels of connectivity has not abated. Far from it. The appetite for bandwidth was actually
in existence long before anyone had even heard of Covid-19, with a significant number of drivers pushing this demand, which the pandemic served simply to accelerate. Speaking at this year’s OFC Conference Market Watch panel, Tim Munks, Senior Principal Analyst: High
Electro Optics October 2023
Speed Optics & Optical Network Technol- ogy at industry intelligence firm Omdia, said: “It’s not a newsflash, but the drivers for continued bandwidth expansion in net- works worldwide include potential business models such as telemedicine, DocuSign, and gaming, all of which are examples of growth providing growth.” Touching on the pandemic, Munks said: “The pandemic accelerated businesses moving to the cloud; and 5G, which had got off to a slow start, has really taken off now. Moreover, investments continue to grow as governments put a lot of money into broad- band expansion where broadband connec- tivity has become seen as a right.” Such investment in fibre deployment
across FTTH, metro, subsea, data centres and front- and back-haul networks has been essential, but investment in R&D for
providers, the move to terabit coherent optical networks could open up new possibilities for efficient data storage, processing, and distribution if implemented correctly, particularly for access and the edge. In scientific research, fields such as astronomy, genomics, and particle physics generate enormous amounts of data that requires fast and reliable transmission. Coherent optical networks with capacities of 1.2 and 1.6Tbps could enable researchers to transfer and collaborate on large datasets more efficiently, accelerating scientific breakthroughs. While the move to 1.2 and 1.6Tbps co-
herent presents opportunities such as those detailed above, it can also pose some tech- nical challenges. Ensuring signal integrity and reducing noise interference becomes critical at these ultra-high data rates. The design and deployment of advanced optical transceivers, amplifiers, and dispersion compensating modules play a vital role in
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