HIGHWAY: Ultra high speed information highways

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 95.0593

Key words (English)

Optical communication; phqtonic technologies

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: AC067

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 1.2 Communications technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Alcatel-SEL-AG (D), Alcatel Alsthom Recherche (F), France Télécom (F), Dept. Of Electronic Systems Eng. (UK), Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (D), University of Bath (UK), Technical University of Denmark (DK), Deutsche Telecom (D), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (CH), British Telecommunications plc (UK)

Abstract (English)

In reaching and surpassing its objectives the HIGHWAY project has developed and tested the essential photonic and electronic technologies, components and subsystems that are required for wideband Trans-European fiber optical communication networks operating at 0 and 40 Gbit/s. In HIGHWAY optical time division multiplexing (OTDM) has been realized for single channel transmission capacities of 40 Gb/s and beyond. Key functional blocks realized include: optical pulse sources, signal multiplexers, optically controlled signal demultiplexers and add-drop multiplexers, optical clock recovery, signal detection and dispersion accomodation. ˆAs electronics with 40 Gb/s capabilities become available, electronic TDM has also been tested.
A key success were the 40 Gbit/s optical high-speed communication demonstrations field and laboratory between Stuttgart and Darmstadt.
ETH-Z is involved in HIGHWAY with the development of optically controlled 40 to 10 Gbit/s demultiplexers and channel add-drop multiplexers. As a key component, a novel optically controlled monolithic Indium Phosphide Mach-Zehnder interferometer switch with semiconductor optical amplifiers in its arms has proven to be highly successful, first in chip form and subsequently in packaged form with precision attached optical fibers, error and penalty free, demultiplexing and channel add-drop functions at 40 Gbit/s have been demonstrated for signals of any polarization throughout the 1.55 micron wavelength range, actually beyond the goals of HIGHWAY also OTDM demultiplexing of 80 to 10 Gbit's and full conversion of 40 Gbit/s signals from one wavelength to another was also demonstrated.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 95.0593