Optical Networks – Where are We Headed?

The agenda was very diverse, covering the legal framework, FTTH roll out in buildings, and the current developments of cables and connectors. “The demand for bandwidth is increasing rapidly”, states Dr. Andreas Hornsteiner, head of the business unit fiber optics at LASER COMPONENTS, who hosted the event. “Current forecasts expect that the amount of mobile data is going to grow by a factor of seven within the next four years – and that’s just one segment of the market. Only optical networks provide the necessary speed to transmit these volumes. At the same time, we have to keep an eye on future technologies, such as autonomous driving.”

Deutsche Telekom is an important player in the roll out of broadband networks – from the main backbone to installation in buildings. As a principle, every newly built residential or commercial area is equipped with FTTH networks. Therefore, the corporation has gained valuable experience in the practical issues of everyday implementation, and its presentation met with great interest.

Other lectures dealt with more detailed questions, such as the latest developments in fiber optic cabling for data centers. The attendees were very impressed to receive a glimpse at the near future: The first manufacturers are currently working on dirt-repellent fiber endings, which would eliminate one of the main sources for errors in passive optical networks.

With his abstract about “fiber optics and infrastructure surveillance”, LASER COMPONENTS expert Falk Wagner proved that optical fibers can be used for more than just data transmission. Using so-called optical test units (OTUs), they may also be employed to monitor critical infrastructures such as power grids or traffic networks. For more complex tasks, several OTUs can be combined into one system.

At the end of a busy day with numerous presentations and lively discussions, all participants were satisfied with the results of the symposium.