18 I ICT TODAY
Discover How to Convert Multimode
Optical Fibers into Singlemode
to Support Growing Bandwidth Demands
Digital communications within local networks are undergoing rapid expansion and
occupying an increasingly important role. This evolution in communication modes
has a direct influence on supporting infrastructures. In order to support this expansion
and any congestion issues that may arise, networks need to be more efficient.
In response, an innovative technology based on multi-plane light conversion (MPLC)
overcomes the bandwidth limitation of multimode fibers, which constitute the backbone
of many LANs. To understand MPLC fully, it is important to understand the current
fiber landscape, the intricacies of multimode optical fiber, and how the technology has
been used at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) campus for its OM1
(62.5/125 μm) upgrade.
By Kevin Lengle,
Ph.D.
