R&D project sends 57Tbit/s over fibre, gets in Guinness Book of Records

Project Manager Dr Ian Giles, said: "We are delighted the work has achieved something so groundbreaking by potentially increasing the capacity of broadband core networks. The project is addressing several possible architecture solutions for Space Division Multiplexing, including the use of hollow core fibre, which is perhaps one of the more advanced approaches. All of the partners contributed to the record results and recognition of this project confirms the value of collaborative R&D projects for Europe." The MODE-GAP project, supported by the EC's 7th Framework Programme, has brought together leading European organisations to address methods of resolving the future communication network capacity crunch. Other achievements by the project include the first field trial of SDM with live traffic. Professor David Richardson from the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre, added: "MODE-GAP has exceeded expectations in terms of technological innovation and breakthroughs. It has shown the potential of hollow core photonic band gap fibres to compete with conventional solid core fibre for telecommunications applications. "With the combination of SDM technology, hollow core fibres could increase capacity 100 times greater than current infrastructure systems. Low latency characteristics also give potential in time of flight critical data network scenarios."