Expected Outcome:

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Sensors/probes to monitor the quality of the communication network and of photonic signals transported in the communication network
• Methods to use the network as large-scale distributed sensor
• Development of foundational optical technologies, systems and networks that provide the future access infrastructure

Scope:

Proposals should address at least one of the following activity areas:

• Light-based solutions to let the communication network sense, while transporting data, for example

o To enhance the security and resilience of the network

o To make network resources more energy efficient

o To warn and protect against natural disasters, earthquakes etc.

o To monitor the infrastructure where the fibre is deployed (traffic, stress in bridges…)

• Light-based solutions to bring internet everywhere, with the most relevant access technologies

o Fiber to the home, fiber to the antenna or fiber to the sky (satellite), for example with coherent passive optical networks, free space optics, Lifi or optical beamforming and steering

o while enabling the integration of all access technologies in one system

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership Photonics.

Specific Topic Conditions:

Activities are expected to start at TRL 2 and achieve TRL 5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.