Issues

Browse our previous issues below, or browse and search for specific features or analysis & opinion.

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Fibre Systems Autumn 2017

Feature

The age of time-sensitive optical transport

13 September 2017

Optical networks are playing an increasingly important role in the distribution of precise timing signals and synchronisation with sub-microsecond accuracy. Michael Ritter explains

Feature

Show Preview: ECOC 2017

12 September 2017

ECOC is the place to be to discover the latest technological and commercial innovations in optical components and networks. Here we highlight some of the exhibitors and events taking place in the exhibition hall.

Feature

Fibre and cable for the cloud

8 September 2017

Hao Dong describes how innovative optical fibres and cabling could provide substantial benefits for connecting data centres across a wide range of distances

Feature

Getting the measure of Viavi

1 September 2017

Oleg Khaykin, CEO of Viavi Solutions, speaks candidly to Fibre Systems about how to compete in the challenging world of communications test and measurement

Analysis and opinion

Infrastructure investors pour money into British broadband

31 August 2017

Britain has a reputation as a backwater when it comes to fibre-optic broadband connections that reach directly into consumer’s homes. Currently, only two per cent of households in the country have access to full fibre connections. But that looks set to change. This summer, some £500 million of equity and new debt have been invested in alternative network providers in the UK.

Fibre Systems Summer 2017

Feature

Squeezing the margins

22 June 2017

Systems vendors are using intelligent software to squeeze more performance from optical networks. Pauline Rigby reports on developments at OFC 2017

Fibre Systems Spring 2017

Feature

How telecom can combat climate change

2 May 2017

BT, Telefonica, Telia Carrier and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative explain how the communications industry is reducing carbon emissions, even as data consumption escalates

Feature

The battle of the modulation schemes

4 April 2017

Oclaro's Adam Carter and Dan Tauber examine which modulation schemes – DMT, PAM4 or coherent – are likely to prevail in the race to higher-speed transmission for more cost-sensitive links

Fibre Systems Winter 2017

Feature

Here be dragons

6 February 2017

Pauline Rigby explores the roadmap for next-generation optical access

Feature

A quantum of security

3 February 2017

Commercial development of quantum key distribution is coming just in time to meet the security threat from quantum computers, finds Andy Extance

Fibre Systems Autumn 2016

Feature

How to clean fibre-optic connectors

16 September 2016

Correct cleaning of fibre-optic connectors is the single most powerful practice that network operators have to future-proof their network, argues Ed Forrest

Feature

Silicon photonics extends its reach

16 September 2016

Dr Marc Bohn gives a systems vendor’s perspective on the emergence of silicon photonics based components in coherent metro and long-haul optical networks

Feature

Breaking the glass ceiling

16 September 2016

Scaling the capacity delivered by optical systems is becoming increasingly difficult, even as data traffic continues to grow exponentially. Pauline Rigby investigates new techniques that could postpone the inevitable ‘capacity crunch’

Feature

F is for FPGA

16 September 2016

Pauline Rigby speaks to Xilinx about the burgeoning opportunities for programmable devices in data centre and cloud computing markets

Fibre Systems Summer 2016

Feature

Internet of everything

8 June 2016

In less than a decade, everything could be connected to the Internet of Things. What impact will this have on the businesses of optical transport vendors, wonders Rebecca Pool

Feature

Digital signal processors meet Moore’s law

7 June 2016

Silicon technology has powered rapid advances in coherent optical communication. Now silicon’s progress is set to slow, but that’s just one of many concerns the industry is preparing to overcome, finds Andy Extance

Fibre Systems Spring 2016

Feature

Securing the cloud networking supernova

17 March 2016

The shift to cloud computing is placing great scrutiny on the security of data as it travels through the network. Jonathan Homa explains how optical systems vendors can help businesses to protect their data

 

Feature

Super-sizing the data centre

17 March 2016

Warehouse-scale data centres are stretching the limits of current networking technologies. Dr Ioannis Tomkos describes how advanced optics can remove performance bottlenecks to enable the data centres of the future

Feature

Compatibles to remember

17 March 2016

ProLabs wants to be as well known for optical modules as Kingston Technology is for memory chips, writes Pauline Rigby

Feature

Sharing of the wealth

17 March 2016

As technology cycles accelerate, how will optical components and module vendors continue to fund advanced research and development? Pauline Rigby investigates

Feature

Optical networks underpin 5G

17 March 2016

The European Commission has put optical networks at the core of its research programmes for 5G networks. Pauline Rigby reports

Fibre Systems Winter 2016

Feature

Blow by blow

16 February 2016

David Stockton gives an account of past, present and future developments in blown fibre technology and equipment

Feature

Future passive

16 February 2016

What will passive optical networks look like in future? Robert Roe explores some promising new research directions

Feature

A brighter future

16 February 2016

FTTH Council Europe President Edgar Aker spoke to Fibre Systems about the new action plan to increase FTTH adoption in Europe

Fibre Systems Autumn 2015

Feature

ROADMs move into the cloud

24 September 2015

Reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexers will bring flexibility and efficiency to data centre interconnect transport networks, argues Coriant’s Bill Kautz

Feature

Redefining density

24 September 2015

Corning’s Matthew Guinan considers how products that maximise density can help operators cope with the increasing amounts of fibre in their networks

Feature

Soft optics, hard photons

24 September 2015

Geoff Bennett examines the evolution of coherent super-channels and how the use of software programmable modulation formats gives operators new options for network optimisation

Feature

Keen to clean

24 September 2015

Beth Harlen spoke with Mike Jones, MicroCare vice president international, and Scott Wells, business manager Europe, about the importance of cleaning in the fibre-optics industry

Fibre Systems Summer 2015

Feature

Long-distance vision

10 June 2015

Ian Davis explains how ultra-low loss and large effective area designs for optical fibre can enhance the operation of long-haul optical transmission in modern optical networks

Feature

Latin America embarks on FTTH journey

10 June 2015

FTTH deployment in Latin America has suddenly accelerated and offers massive potential for growth. Robert Roe examines the unique circumstances in this interesting market

Feature

The problem with packaging

10 June 2015

With packaging costs dominating the cost of optical transceivers, will silicon photonics ever provide the cheap, fast optical links that data centre managers crave? Rebecca Pool finds out

Feature

Blurred boundaries

10 June 2015

How should the metro network be described? Jon Baldry considers how optical systems vendors are responding to the changing requirements in the metro market

Feature

Good grounding

10 June 2015

 

AFL has expanded far beyond its origins as a manufacturer of optical ground wire, and now offers a broad portfolio of fibre-optic products. Robert Roe talks to Phil Edwards, president of AFL EMEA

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