Introduction: All-optical wavelength converters (AOWC) are envisioned to be part of future high-speed networks. In particular, they might replace optical-to-electrical-to-optical (OEO) wavelength translator units in optical crossconnects [1]. However, to be practical, AOWCs must be able to convert signals that have been degraded during transmission over reasonable distances. Tolerance to timing...

The next leap in the communications market may be the extension of optical technology to access networks. Advanced fibre optical access equipment has been developed in the last decade and today trial tests are on the way and insular deployment has begun. The access network, the last mile, has not encountered any major changes of technology for a century. However, current advancements in technol...

Introduction: Requirements of the physical layer in a photonic switching network include a high channel bandwidth for the throughput of ultra-high bandwidth signals, fast switching speeds and optical processing of switching control algorithms to remove the speed bottleneck imposed by electronic processing. Integrated-optic waveguide switches offer a channel bandwidth comparable to that of the f...

A review of passive components based on optical microfibers is presented. KeywordsOptical fibre tapers; optical microfibers, fibre devices, optical fibre nanowires

Optical Amplifiers are essentials components in long haul fibre optic system. An amplifier is a electronic device that can increase the power of signal. An Optical Amplifier is effectively the opposite of attenuator while Optical Amplifiers provide gain and attenuator provides loss. When a signal travels in a optical fibre medium the signal suffer from various losses such as fibre losses, atten...

The Software Defined Networking (SDN) gained recognition due to its improvements at the packet switching and routing layers. The benefits of programmable, remotely controllable networking devices can be applied to the optical layer of contemporary networks as well. This work introduces CESNET's Czech Light~® family of devices and their role in enabling the SDN approach within the CESNET's produ...

The genesis of this special issue was the International Symposium on Green Radio over-fibre and all-Optical Wireless technologies for Access Networks: GROWAN 2011, 15– 17 June 2011, Brest, France. A selection of international key speakers from both industry and academia were invited to address radio-over-fibre and all-optical wireless technologies with a focus on minimising overall energy consu...