Speakers:

• Rodrigo Amezcua Correa, Relativity Networks, USA
• Paolo Dainese, Corning, USA
• Russell Ellis, Microsoft, United Kingdom
• Kerrianne Harringtone, University of Bath, United Kingdom
• Matěj Komanec, CTU, Prague, Czech Republic
• Andrew Lord, BT, United Kingdom
• Kazunori Mukasa, Furukawa, Japan
• Mohammad Pasandi, Ciena, Canada
• Pierluigi Poggiolini, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
• Yingying Wang, Linfiber and Jinan University, China
• YOFC
• China Telecom
• Sumitomo (Sato)

HCF Topics:

• Production Maturity:
• Advances in DNAN (Nested Anti-Resonant Nodeless) HCF production, enabling longer reach (100km, with potential for 200km). This reflects the growing maturity of HCF manufacturing processes. (Reference: “Recent Progress in Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber Technology,” Journal of Lightwave Technology: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9440621)
• Multi-Core HCF (MC-HCF) development, addressing capacity demands, but also presenting manufacturing and splicing challenges. (Reference: “Space-Division Multiplexing Using Multicore Hollow-Core Fibers,” Journal of Lightwave Technology: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9121659)
• Emphasis on scalable and repeatable manufacturing processes, vital for commercial viability.
• Addressing the complexities inherent in mass production, directly impacting operational costs. (Reference: “Hollow-Core Fiber Market Analysis,” Lightwave Online: https://www.lightwaveonline.com/fiber/article/14287515/hollowcore-fiber-market-analysis)
• Lack of standardized long lifespan testing: The industry lacks unified standards to test the long term reliability of HCF cables, which is a major issue for large scale deployments.
  • Advantages of HCF:
• Ultra-Low Latency: Approximately 33% reduction compared to SMF, crucial for latency-sensitive applications like high-frequency trading and 5G/6G networks. (Reference: “Low-Latency Optical Communication Using Hollow-Core Fibers,” Nature Photonics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-020-0610-z)
• Reduced Nonlinearity: Enables higher power transmission and bi-directional communication, extending reach and improving signal quality. (Reference: “Nonlinear Effects in Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fibers,” Optical Fiber Technology: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S106479981830154X)
• Increased Bandwidth Capacity: Potential to expand available spectrum, particularly in the 1600nm-1700nm range, addressing future bandwidth demands. (Reference: “Ultra-Wideband Transmission in Hollow-Core Fibers,” Journal of Optical Communications and Networking: https://www.osapublishing.org/jocn/abstract.cfm?uri=jocn-11-1-A12)
• Lower attenuation: approaching SMF levels.
  • Deployment Challenges:
• Micro-bend Sensitivity: Larger core diameters (200-250µm) and complex cladding structures necessitate careful handling and deployment.
• OTDR Limitations: Reduced backscatter and low nonlinearity require specialized OTDR techniques.
• Environmental Factors: CO2 and H2O absorption within the core impact specific wavelengths, requiring mitigation strategies.
• Interconnection Complexities: Mode field mismatch between SMF and HCF, contamination concerns, and splicing challenges demand innovative solutions.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Achieving cost parity with SMF is crucial for widespread adoption.
  • Future Improvements:
• Ultra-Low Loss Fiber Development: Ongoing research to achieve sub-0.1dB attenuation, enhancing transmission distances.
• Advanced Connector Design: Development of connectors optimized for HCF’s unique properties, including anti-reflective coatings and mode field adapters.
• Optimized Splicing Techniques: Refinement of splicing methods to minimize losses and ensure reliable connections.
• Transceiver Compatibility: Development of transceivers capable of fully utilizing HCF’s bandwidth potential.
• Full Spectrum Utilization: Exploration of the 1650nm-2650nm spectrum, expanding HCF’s application range.
  • Standards:
• Establishment of comprehensive standards for HCF components, testing procedures, and deployment practices.
• Standardization of measurement techniques for reliability and lifespan assessment.
• Development of standardized limits for environmental factors like gas contamination.
• Standardization of HCF interconnections.