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Irish Gov't Invests In Color-Coded Fiber Optics

Posted by timothy on from the can-envy-without-wanting dept.

c0mpliant writes "The Irish government has invested a further €5 million, after already having invested €5 million one year ago, in a new system of fiber optics which heralds an era of virtualization of fiber networks, using color coding to enable multiple fiber providers to serve businesses and homes, often on a single strand of fiber. The technology, which has already sparked interest from companies such as BT and IBM, is already in its first phase and boasts an impressive 2.5 terabytes capacity, double the capacity of the London phone system. The company behind the technology, Intune Technology, is comprised of a group of ex-UCD photonics researchers and has been around since 1999 and are based in Dublin. The project is set to be completed by 2020."

6 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. 2.5 terabytes capacity? by noidentity · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The technology, which has already sparked interest from companies such as BT and IBM, is already in its first phase and boasts an impressive 2.5 terabytes capacity, double the capacity of the London phone system.

    Meh, my hard drive can store almost that much already.

  2. Terminology by fridaynightsmoke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I assume that by 'colour coding' what the summary actually means is Frequency Division Multiplexing, which isn't exactly new.

    Reading TFA it looks to me like a situation of "we've 'invented' this amazing technology, give us money". That may be unfair I admit. What IS interesting is the idea of the fibre being shared by competing telcos. Has that been done before?

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    1. Re:Terminology by pehrs · · Score: 5, Informative

      What IS interesting is the idea of the fibre being shared by competing telcos. Has that been done before?

      Yes, it has. Selling wavelengths in dark fiber is very common, and companies frequently buy part of lines from eachother. Submarine cables are frequently owned by several companies.

      On a level closer to the customer there exists a (in Sweden) functional business model where a company owns the line to the customer and creates a market where different ISP's can provide services to the customer. OpenNet is one of more well known providers using this business model in Sweden.

  3. Powerpoint with details by 2phar · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's a Presentation from April with some detail. There's more to this than just regular WDM.

  4. Re:Divisive by Chrisq · · Score: 4, Funny

    Another thing for the Catholics & Prods to argue over. Who gets the green wires...

    That's not the problem. The problem come when they try to lay an orange wire in a catholic street or a green one in a protestant one.

  5. hmmm by circletimessquare · · Score: 4, Funny

    so the irish are asserting that there are financial benefits in adapting this prismatic fibre optic technology?

    in other words, there is a pot of gold, at the end of the rainbow?

    where did the irish get such an idea?

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