INDUSTRY NEWS
New European photonics project aims to prevent bridge collapses
A new €5.1 million European research project is exploring whether fibre- optic cables can serve as real-time sensors for hidden damage in critical infrastructure, including bridges, railways, tunnels and energy pipelines. The ECSTATIC project, coordinated by Aston University in the UK, is trialling this approach in a major UK city, using a heavily used Victorian-era railway viaduct as its first live test site. The goal is to detect subtle structural shifts, stress,
and vibrations in real time, using laser light pulses sent through fibre-optic cables already embedded right beneath our feet. Installing physical sensors across entire transport and energy networks would cost billions and cause major disruption according to the ECSTATIC project, which plans use existing fibre infrastructure.
As trains pass overhead, the fibres subtly flex and vibrate, changing how the light behaves inside the cable, altering the phase and polarisation of the light, creating a kind of optical “fingerprint” of the forces acting on the structure. By measuring these changes and interpreting them using a new dual- microcomb photonic chip and advanced AI signal processing, ECSTATIC aims to pinpoint early warning signs of damage or fatigue. This process is done
without any interruption to existing internet traffic or deployment of new fibre cables. The ECSTATIC project runs until July 2028 and is bringing together 13 partners from across Europe. This includes leading universities Padova, L’Aquila, Chalmers, Alcalá, and West Attica, alongside industry Telecom Italia Sparkle, OTE Group, Nokia, Network Rail, MODUS, and Swiss SME Enlightra SARL, as well as the Greek seismology specialists NOA.
At the project’s first demonstration site,
researchers will send ultra- precise laser pulses through buried fibre-optic cables.
Ocean Networks, Prysmian, IT, to boost high-speed fibre access for Hawaii
Ocean Networks has selected cable solutions provider Prysmian and submarine cable engineering and installation specialist International Telecom Inc. (IT) for the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL) project. The partnership is set to boost development
of Hawaii’s open-access, carrier-neutral inter-island fibre infrastructure, which is designed to improve and expand high-speed broadband internet throughout the state. The HIFL project, a key component of the State of Hawaii’s “Connect Kākou”
broadband initiative, aims to deliver robust and resilient digital connectivity across the Hawaiian Islands. Under the agreement, Prysmian will supply approximately 740 kilometres of state-of-the-art submarine cable, while IT will provide essential engineering and installation services for
the HIFL system.
Ocean Networks is responsible for the overall supply, construction, operations, and maintenance of the HIFL system, reinforcing its commitment to creating an advanced and equitable digital landscape for the state of Hawaii.
LINX announces major network upgrade at IXP in Riyadh
Nokia and MXFiber extend high-speed connectivity across Southeast Mexico
The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has announced a successful network upgrade at the center3 Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The upgrades will increase the availability of 100GE ports following customer demand and also to enable the interconnection point with 400GE connectivity services. The exchange is now set to meet the growing demand for high-capacity, low-latency interconnection services from global networks, content providers, and enterprises. The hub has become a
Nokia has deployed a new optical transport network backbone for MX Fiber to extend reliable, high- capacity connectivity across Southeast Mexico, one of the country’s most undeserved regions. The deployment is set to boost economic revitalisation and modern services for communities, businesses, and government projects in the area. Customers across Chiapas, Tabasco, and Quintana Roo, and soon Campeche and Veracruz, will benefit from faster internet, enhanced cloud access, and support for data-intensive applications. Spanning 1,800 km, the
cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s digital infrastructure since its launch in 2024, with its latest enhancements supporting the region’s ambitious Vision 2030 agenda. The programme places digital transformation – from smart cities and AI-driven healthcare to fintech and cloud services – at the heart of national development. With over $3B already invested and an additional $10B planned, center3 is building a next-generation, carrier-neutral data centre
new network is built on Nokia’s Flex-Grid DWDM technology and 1830
Photonic Service Switch (PSS), delivering scalable 10G, 100G, and 200G services. This capacity enables customers to connect to modern data centres, industrial parks, and subsea transport hubs, critical for commerce, mobility, and digital inclusion. The Nokia 1830 PSS solution enables seamless upgrades to 400G and 800G without disrupting existing services and has a built-in dynamic network management and real-time performance monitoring via Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry (OTDR).
ecosystem that delivers unmatched scalability,
sustainability, and reliability for enterprises, hyperscalers, and government operations.
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| ISSUE 42 | Q3 2025
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