New Silicon Chips Offer Increased Bandwidth
September 14, 2015 | CORDISEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
A key potential end user of these chips, developed through the EU-funded IRIS project, will be data centre operators. Data centres house computer systems and associated components such as telecommunications and storage systems that ensure the smooth running of businesses. Companies increasingly rely on their information systems to run operations.
Data centre networks need to be scalable and efficient in order to connect tens or even hundreds of thousands of servers. The growth of cloud computing – where data is stored and processed in third-party data centres – has also increased demand for more efficient storage space. A key constraint on data centre capacity however has been the limits of the interconnection network, and it is this constraint that the IRIS project has sought to address.
The new photonic chips use silicon as a miniaturised optical medium for transmitting and switching data at very high speeds. The optical interconnection offered by the new chips means that huge amounts of data can be sent and received at the same time in a highly efficient manner. Optical interconnects communicate through optical cables; which have a much higher bandwidth compared to traditional cables.
The innovation reduces power consumption and increases capacity at the same time, leading to lower operational costs for businesses. The first chips are currently in the test and characterisation phase, and have been shown to enhance network performance.
Researchers from Ericsson in Pisa, Italy, who are coordinating the project, have already generated and filed all relevant patent proposals. Indeed, industrial partners within the consortium strongly believe that it is of strategic importance now to develop new functions that will enable new products to be developed in the era of fifth generation (5G) mobile network technology.
The forthcoming 5G era is about bringing the capacity needed to cope with the projected increase in wireless communication and data exchange. This technology wave is expected to be introduced around 2020 and should last until approximately 2035.
Whatever 5G will be – and no one is completely sure yet – it is unlikely to be the same as previous generations (4G, for example, started off as a way to provide smartphone users with easy and quick access to internet-based services like YouTube, Facebook, and Netflix). One prediction for 5G is that it will include more business to business services, which is exactly where the IRIS project results fit in.
The EU is investing significantly in the development of 5G in order to ensure that Europe as the forefront of this technology, and that European businesses can capitalise on demand for new applications and functions. The IRIS project, funded to the tune of EUR 3.35 million by the EU, is scheduled for completion at the end of 2016.
Suggested Items
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Operational Excellence and Smart Factory Initiatives
04/30/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOOperational excellence and operational efficiency are defined in this interview with Koh Young General Manager Joel Scutchfield. He touches on automation, AI, and collaboration as solutions to resource limitations. Koh Young's data-driven approach uses AI for process adjustments, data analytics, and supply chain enhancements. The discussion underscores the shift toward smart factory initiatives and the future of manufacturing, with a focus on reshoring, nearshoring, and technology utilization.
IDTechEx Report on Quantum Technology: Nano-scale Physics for Massive Market Impact
04/30/2024 | PRNewswireThe quantum technology market leverages nano-scale physics to create revolutionary new devices for computing, sensing, and communications. Across the industry, quantum technology offers a paradigm shift in performance compared with incumbent solutions.
NASA’s Optical Comms Demo Transmits Data Over 140 Million Miles
04/30/2024 | NASA JPLNASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment also interfaced with the Psyche spacecraft’s communication system for the first time, transmitting engineering data to Earth.
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Insight into Summit Interconnect's Success
04/30/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOShane Whiteside, CEO of Summit Interconnect, discusses the company's recent recognition as one of the best PCB fabricators in the industry by receiving IPC's Peter Sarmanian award. Whiteside touches on the impact of changes in the marketplace, such as the Defense Production Act and presidential determination, on their growth. Whiteside also shares the company's focus on mechanical and data automation to enhance manufacturing processes and anticipates more automation and evolution in the industry.
Koh Young Showcases Award-winning Inspection Solutions at SMTconnect with SmartRep in Hall 4A.225
04/25/2024 | Koh Young TechnologyKoh Young Technology, the industry leader in True 3D measurement-based inspection solutions, will showcase an array of award-winning inspection and measurement solutions at SMTconnect alongside its sales partner, SmartRep, in booth 4A.225 at NürnbergMesse from June 11-13, 2023. The following offers a glimpse into what Koh Young will present at the tradeshow: