Figure 1 Bonded 4-core optical fiber network built on a real-world testbed in L’Aquila, Italy
Coupling-type multi-core optical fiber: successful optical switching!
– Increasing the capacity of long-distance optical networks –
NICT National Institute of Information and Communications Technology:
May 11, 2023
Invented an optical switch compatible with coupled 4-core optical fibers, and designed and built a large-capacity optical fiber communication system.
For the first time in the world, we succeeded in the optical switching experiment of a coupled four-core optical fiber in L’Aquila, Italy.
This optical switching technology will greatly advance the Beyond 5G long-distance and large-capacity optical network.
Figure 2 Configuration of optical switch (1 input, 3 outputs) supporting coupled 4-core optical fiber
Build a real-world testbed:
Built a real-world testbed in collaboration with L’Aquila University, HHI, Finisar, and Sumitomo Electric.
Optical switching experiments for each wavelength:
This time, NICT independently configured an “optical switch compatible with standard outer diameter coupled 4-core optical fibers” based on a “commercially available wavelength selective switch.”
For the first time in the world, we succeeded in optical switching experiments for each wavelength.
https://www.nict.go.jp/press/2023/05/11-1.html
Future outlook:
Regarding “SDM communication of coupled multi-core optical fiber”, we will increase the number of coupling cores and wavelength multiplexing bands and increase the capacity.
We would like to expand the optical switches that support this, and establish the basic technology for long-distance, large-capacity optical networks.
A paper on the results of this experiment:
It was adopted as a Postdeadline Paper at the 46th International Conference on Optical Fiber Communications (OFC 2023).
Colorless and Directionless ROADM for Meshed Coupled-Core Multicore Fiber Networks