MODE-GAP, the European collaborative R&D project, part of the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme, which aims to provide Europe with a lead in the development of the next generation telecommunication networks, will present its latest developments at this week's OFC event at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. As well as delivering three workshop presentations, the project will showcase all aspects of its recent findings with thirteen accepted papers, three of which have been specifically invited by the conference organisers.

The technical papers will explore MODE-GAP’s most recent research and findings, spanning from its breakthroughs in Photonic Band Gap Fibres (PBGF), next generation Spatial Division Multiplexing (SDM) transmission, processing and components. These key research areas have been investigated thoroughly and driven by key European organisations from industry and academia* collaborating on the project with the main objective of tackling the ever looming capacity crunch.

In its work since OFC 2013, MODE-GAP has achieved far more than Project Manager Dr. Ian Giles originally anticipated: “It really is remarkable how far MODE-GAP has come in investigating ways to enhance our communications infrastructure and the overall capacity of broadband core networks. We have demonstrated SDM with Few Mode Fibres (FMF) links in a live network field trial demonstrating different potential network upgrade options. This was beyond the project objectives.

“With societies’ ever increasing data-transmission requirements, the project was commissioned to find an urgent solution to the forecasted capacity crunch. Within the past three and a half years, not only have we contributed towards a solution for Europe but we have made discoveries that can be utilised all over the world and OFC provides the perfect opportunity for us to present such findings.”

The project is in its final year and continues to contribute to exciting developments in the field as demonstrated by the number of papers scheduled to be presented at OFC. In recent years, MODE-GAP achieved record transmission results over Solid core FMF, Hollow Core - PBGF fibres for transmission and in the 2000nm region, offering increased bandwidth opportunities.

Dr Ian Giles, Project Manager of MODE-GAP and CEO of Phoenix Photonics will be available for interviews at booth 3675 in the OFC exhibition from 11- 13 March, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA, USA. If you would like to arrange an interview with Dr. Giles, please contact Claire McAdam on +44(0)1636 812152 or by email at [email protected].

For further information please visit modegap.eu.