The world’s first fully optical switch for telecoms networks
Around the world, the outdated copper wires that used to make up our telecommunications networks are gradually being replaced by fibre-optic cables. Using light rather than electricity is a much more efficient way of transmitting data. But even now, after thirty years or so of improvements in fibre optic communications – increasing bandwidth (the amount of data that can be transmitted) and improving efficiency – telecoms networks are still struggling to keep up with demand. In a world where it’s not just people’s voices that are transmitted but all kinds of digital data, our telecoms networks will soon be congested and unusable if current trends continue.
This is a worldwide issue, but it is one that is keenly felt in the UK. Currently data centres consume 2% of the world’s energy (and this is expected to increase significantly), with 23% of that energy use being directly related to network switches.
To solve this problem, sustainable computing specialists Finchetto, based in Surrey, have developed the world’s first fully optical network switch. This new switch allows high-performance computer users and data centres to improve data transmission and capacity speeds and reduce energy consumption, compared to electronic-based systems.
We are developing a revolutionary technology that will be transformational in a huge global market
Mark Rushworth
CEO, Finchetto
A prototype of the new switch, which eliminates all electronic control of the switching, was originally produced with support from an Innovate UK Smart grant. Now, with funding from the UKRI Technology Missions Fund via the Future Telecoms Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition, Finchetto is developing a new version of its technology specifically for telecoms networks.
Data centres consume 2% of the world’s energy – and this is expected to increase significantly
Finchetto’s CEO, Mark Rushworth, explains: “we’ve proven the effectiveness of our all-optical switch in prototype. We’ve shown that it can bring energy consumption down by over 20x, reduces latency by 40x and switches at the speed of the surrounding transceivers – this is something that has never been done before. The objective of the project now, in which we are collaborating with BT, is to determine specific use cases for the switch in the UK’s telecoms network.”
Though the new switch is based on classical physics and does not use quantum effects, it is compatible with new developments in quantum computing: in a separate project Finchetto is working with the National Quantum Computing Centre through the government-funded Qu-BIC programme to establish use cases within the quantum supply chain which could help telecoms networks be more secure, as well as quicker and more sustainable.
Finally, this is a globally relevant technology with significant potential for export. “Other countries around the world are looking at moving to entirely optical telecoms networks,” says Mark Rushworth. “We are developing a revolutionary technology that will be transformational in a huge global market.”
UKRI Technology Missions Fund
The UKRI Technology Missions Fund is designed to exploit the UK’s global leadership in transformative technologies to help solve specific problems, whilst also helping cement that leading position. Overall, UKRI is investing £320 million in Technology Missions to enable new and existing capabilities and capacity in artificial intelligence, engineering biology, future telecommunications and quantum technologies in the years 2023 to 2025 and beyond.
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