Researchers at Aston University have achieved a record-breaking data transmission speed, reaching rates 4.5 million times faster than the average home broadband. They accomplished this by unlocking new wavelength bands not yet used in fibre optic systems. Collaborating with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in Japan and Nokia Bell Labs in the USA, the team, including Professor Wladek Forysiak and Dr. Ian Phillips, managed to transmit data at an astounding 301 terabits per second (301,000,000 megabits per second) through a single, standard optical fibre. This is in stark contrast to the UK's average home broadband speed of just 69.4 Mbit/s [1], as reported by Ofcom in September 2023.

Figure 1. Dr Ian Phillips with the Wavelength Management Device. (Credit: Aston Univeresity)

Figure 1 shows the wavelength management device. To achieve this feat, the researchers developed new devices such as optical amplifiers and optical gain equalizers, enabling them to access additional wavelength bands. Dr. Phillips explained that, alongside the commonly used C and L-bands, they utilized the E-band and S-band, which had not been necessary before due to the sufficient capacity of C and L-bands. Aston University has been pioneering optical amplifiers for the E-band, which, although adjacent to the C-band, is three times wider. Their development allowed proper emulation of the E-band channels in a controlled manner for the first time [2].

Professor Forysiak highlighted the significant potential of this advancement, emphasizing that increasing transmission capacity in the backbone network could vastly improve connections for end users. This breakthrough showcases the importance of advancing optical fibre technology to revolutionize communication networks for faster and more reliable data transmission. Expanding system capacity by utilizing more of the available spectrum, including the E-band, S-band, and L-band, not only helps reduce costs but also offers a greener solution. It maximizes the use of existing fibre networks, increasing their data-carrying capacity and extending their commercial value and lifespan.

The findings were published this month by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) and presented at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) in Glasgow, October 2023.

Source: Aston University

References:

1. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1049911
2. https://www.nict.go.jp/en/press/2024/06/26-1.html

Cite this article:

Hana M (2024), Aston University Researchers Achieve Record-Breaking Data Transmission Speed, AnaTechmaz, pp. 127