Optical fiber access technologies
Cutting edge optical access network and facilities management for smart handling of diverse and complex needs
These technologies are an effort to make access networks advanced and economical, and to make the construction, operation, and maintenance of communications facilities smarter.
Action
Optical fiber environmental monitoring
Optical fiber itself has no need for a power supply and can be used as a highly weather-resistant sensor. Optical fiber vibration measurement technology focuses on these features. When using an optical fiber network for communication purposes not specifically deployed for sensing as a sensing infrastructure spread throughout society, highly sensitive vibration measurement technology is essential. We are researching and developing optical fiber environmental monitoring equipped with highly sensitive optical fiber vibration measurement technology with the aim of managing various infrastructure facilities by obtaining and visualizing environmental information throughout a region and of achieving new regional services such as disaster assessment and damage prediction based on river and soil data.
Labor reduction/construction automation technologies
In line with a drop in the working population, insufficient human resources and fewer skilled personnel are expected to impact the construction of information-communications infrastructures and the operation and maintenance of the optical access network. We will therefore conduct a drastic reform of techniques and construction methods that have so far been dependent on "humans" and promote safety improvements, labor-saving methods, and high efficiency in operations. Specifically, we are engaged in multifaceted and advanced research and development such as machine construction, the design of structures applicable to machine construction, and the digitalization of on-site environments. The use of this technology should achieve a dramatic transformation of not only the communications industry but also the entire infrastructure industry.
Optical fiber operation technology
To respond in time to new needs and fluctuating demand in the optical access network, we are researching and developing optical-signal branching/merging technology that can provide optical fiber resources in a flexile manner without interrupting current communication services.
Optical branching/merging technology can branch and merge optical signals in optical fiber with communication in progress at any location without interrupting any communication processes. This technology can minimize expansion of network facilities for installing terminals at a new location and is expected to reduce facility construction costs and shorten construction periods.
Next-generation optical fiber technology
Future increases in traffic in the core and submarine networks are expected to exceed the current limit in the transmission capacity of existing single-mode fiber. There is therefore a need to establish ultra-large-capacity technology using space division multiplexing (SDM) optical fiber. To meet this need, we are researching and developing the expansion of transmission capacity using SDM optical fiber design, the merging of system-power-saving/SDM-optical-amplification technology by optical processing and optical control technology targeting light within the transmission medium. We are also researching and developing cabling technology that can exploit the characteristics of SDM optical fiber to the maximum.
