Optical communications

Specific Challenge: The research activity focuses on technologies of optical communication networks, which will allow coping with the expected significant traffic growth and meet the flexibility requirements imposed by major trends in the evolution of network usage, out of which cloud computing notably.

 Scope: The proposed research should target at least one of two following topics:

         Programmable optical hardware

In order to allow more flexibility in the control and management of optical networks and enable the advent of software defined optical networking, further work in the development of flexible/programmable optical hardware is required.

         Super-capacity optical transport networks

The continuous increase in traffic demand calls for new approaches to transmission over optical fibres, so that progresses of several orders of magnitude can be achieved in the capacity of transport networks. Amongst these new approaches, one can notably mention Space Division Multiplexing.

Expected impact:

         Key enabling technologies that contribute to the emergence of new generations of optical transport networks, which will allow coping with the expected significant traffic growth and meet the flexibility requirements.

         Joint contributions to International Standardization and/or Forum activities.

Types of action:

Research & Innovation Actions –The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of EUR 1,5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.