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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/S016171/1
Title: EPSRC-SFI:Energy Efficient M Communication using Combs (EEMC)
Principal Investigator: Ellis, Professor AD
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Dublin City University Institution of Engineering & Technology Oclaro Technology UK
Pilot Photonics
Department: College of Engineering and Physical Sci
Organisation: Aston University
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 April 2019 Ends: 31 March 2024 Value (£): 634,133
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Digital Signal Processing Optical Communications
Optical Devices & Subsystems
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Communications
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
26 Nov 2018 EPSRC ICT Prioritisation Panel November 2018 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The remarkable success of the internet is unquestioned, touching all aspects of our daily lives and commerce. This success is fundamentally underpinned by the tremendous capacity of unseen underground and undersea optical fibre cables and the technologies associated with them. Indeed, the initial surge in web usage in the mid-1990s coincides with the commissioning of the first optically amplified transatlantic cable network, TAT12/13 allowing ready access to information otherwise inaccessible. In parallel with the consistent exponential increase (quadrupling every 4 years) in broadband access rates, optical transceivers used in the core of the communications network have typically grown in bandwidth at the same rate, excepting a small and temporary downturn associated with the introduction of coherent technologies. Today, just as broadband demands begin to outstrip the capabilities of the incumbent technology (twisted pair copper cables) requiring new technology (optical fibre) to be deployed, bandwidth demands in the core network are exceeding the capabilities of single carrier modulation.

In this project we will develop low cost all optical techniques to continue to expand the bandwidth of the transceivers which power the internet. Our all optical solution has the potential to be compact, suiting applications both within data centres operated by the likes of Google, Facebook and Microsoft and within the core international networks. The solution will address important challenges at such high bandwidths, such as synchronisation, noise and digital signal processing. If successful EEMC2 will deliver a transponder with more than an order of magnitude more capacity than those commercially available, equivalent of a Gb broadband connection rather than 70 Mb.

Key Findings
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.aston.ac.uk