09 February 2018

New fibre optic switching technologies could potentially automate manual processes and reduce energy costs across telecoms, according to recent research.

To keep up with increased demands for fibre optic switching technology, a consortium of industrial, research and academic partners launched the SwIFT (optical Switch combining Integrated photonics and Fluidics Technologies) project. With an EU grant of €1.85m, their aim was to develop a low-cost solution for automatic and remote fibre management.

According to SwIFT, connector rich patch panels implemented in fibre networks require operators to manually configure connector plugs in the central office and field. By combining silicon photonics and microfluidics – a similar technology to what has been successfully implemented in e-readers – it claims operators could potentially use software to patch and re-patch cables.

SwIFT project coordinator Jan Watté says that after four years of research, the consortium has moved a step closer to a concept that has the potential to reduce operational expenses associated with installing, provisioning and maintaining the embedded fibre plant and optical connections.

“Dramatic energy savings, reduced floor occupation in the central office and redesigned closures could create a paradigm shift for network operators,” he says. “The SwIFT concept findings lay the groundwork for further development of industry specifications – we see a huge opportunity for the telecommunications industry, especially for network and data centre operators.”

Watté adds that the combination of microfluidics and silicon photonics could deliver information in a “blink of an eye”.

The SwIFT project was part of the EU’s 7th Framework Programme for ICT. This bundles research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof, and is said to play a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment.