
Important progress has been made in the Fibre Optic Connectivity Programme in the Malaysian state of Kelantan
2025-06-13
According to a report by Bernama on April 22, the government of Kelantan, Malaysia, announced that it had completed the construction of 232 5G base stations by the end of January this year, achieving 67% 5G coverage in densely populated areas. This is an important step forward in the state's Fibre Connectivity Plan, which aims to expand high-speed networks to key areas such as educational institutions and industrial parks, and to add seven new communication towers to increase network capacity during the year.
Wangroslan, chairman of the state digital innovation committee, revealed that the government has introduced incentives for the construction of base stations and established a synergy mechanism with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The technical team is optimizing the existing network through regular stress tests and implementing transmission equipment upgrades in key areas. At present, the total length of the state's optical fiber backbone network has exceeded 1,800 kilometers, an increase of 400% compared with three years ago.
"We are building a digital economy highway." Speaking in the state assembly today, Wangroslan highlighted that the Kelantan Fibre Project has a special focus on education equity, with plans to deploy gigabit broadband to 87 remote schools by 2025. According to the data, the average mobile network speed in the state increased by 65% year-on-year, and the number of 5G commercial package users exceeded 120,000. With Southeast Asia's first cross-border submarine fibre optic cable (MIST) in Malaysia, Kelantan is poised to become a digital hub connecting Thailand and Cambodia.
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Pakistan plans to expand fiber connectivity to 7.5 million households in the next five years
2025-06-13
Pakistan's Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MoITT) recently announced the launch of a national fiber optic plan, which plans to cover 7.5 million households across the country with a fiber optic network within five years and achieve 80% fiber-to-the-station (FTTS) deployment, as reported by phoneworld on April 22. As the core part of the "Digital Economy Enhancement Project", the plan aims to increase the national average network speed to 60Mbps, laying the foundation for 5G commercialization and the popularization of the Internet of Things.
At present, Pakistan has built 211,000 kilometers of optical fiber networks, but the existing network is still difficult to support the needs of digital transformation. The New Deal focuses on three major breakthroughs: attracting more than $2 billion in private capital through public-private partnerships; Unify the national right-of-way approval standards and shorten the deployment cycle by 40%; Mandatory infrastructure sharing for operators. It is particularly noteworthy that for the first time, the policy includes the local manufacturing of optical fiber devices in the scope of incentives, which is expected to reduce import dependence by 30%.
The Minister of Telecommunications, Amin your Haq, revealed that a special management office has been set up to promote the implementation. Faced with the challenge of the digital divide between urban and rural areas, the policy has set up a universal service fund, requiring 15% of the profits of urban projects to be used to subsidize rural construction. Despite concerns about financing gaps and administrative efficiency, data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Pakistan shows that the ICT industry is expected to grow by 7.2% and create 80,000 jobs in the first year of implementation.
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Ribbon Fiber Technology Innovations and Market Expansion Herald New Transformations in the Optical Communication Field
2025-05-21
In the fast - paced world of optical communication, ribbon fibers are emerging as a game - changing technology, revolutionizing the way data is transmitted and opening up new possibilities for various industries. Recent developments in ribbon fiber technology have been nothing short of remarkable, with significant breakthroughs in manufacturing processes, performance enhancements, and expanded applications.
Technological Breakthroughs Propelling Growth
Manufacturers have been making substantial progress in perfecting the production of ribbon fibers. Advanced manufacturing techniques are now being employed to ensure higher precision in fiber alignment within the ribbon structure. This has led to a significant reduction in signal attenuation and crosstalk, resulting in more reliable and efficient data transmission. For instance, new deposition methods are being used to create more uniform fiber coatings, which not only protect the fibers but also improve their optical properties.
Moreover, researchers have been working on developing new materials for ribbon fibers. Novel polymers and glass compositions are being explored to enhance the fibers' flexibility, durability, and resistance to environmental factors. These new materials are expected to enable ribbon fibers to be used in more challenging environments, such as high - temperature industrial settings or long - distance underwater communication cables.
Expanding Horizons in Applications
The applications of ribbon fibers are expanding across a wide range of sectors. In the data center industry, ribbon fibers are becoming the go - to solution for high - density network cabling. Their ability to pack a large number of fibers in a small space allows data centers to increase their network capacity significantly. With the ever - growing demand for cloud computing, big data analytics, and high - speed data transfer, ribbon fibers are playing a crucial role in meeting these requirements. For example, major data center operators are increasingly adopting ribbon fiber - based cabling systems to support the rapid growth of their server farms and to ensure seamless connectivity for their clients.
In the telecommunications sector, ribbon fibers are being used to upgrade existing fiber - optic networks. They are enabling service providers to offer higher - bandwidth services, such as 5G and future - proof 6G networks. By using ribbon fibers, telecommunication companies can increase the data - carrying capacity of their networks without having to lay additional cables, thus reducing costs and minimizing disruptions to existing infrastructure.
The medical field is also witnessing the adoption of ribbon fibers. In medical imaging devices, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems, ribbon fibers are being used to transmit high - resolution images. Their high - speed data transfer capabilities and low signal distortion make them ideal for applications where accurate and real - time imaging is essential, such as in diagnosing diseases and guiding minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Market Impact and Future Outlook
The growing adoption of ribbon fibers has had a significant impact on the market. The demand for ribbon fiber products, including cables, connectors, and splicing equipment, has been on the rise. Market research firms predict that the global ribbon fiber market will experience substantial growth in the coming years. The increasing investment in digital infrastructure, driven by the need for faster and more reliable data communication, is a major factor contributing to this growth.
As ribbon fiber technology continues to evolve, it is expected to drive further innovation in the optical communication industry. The development of more advanced ribbon fiber products, such as those with even higher fiber densities and improved transmission speeds, will open up new opportunities for emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles. These technologies rely heavily on high - speed, low - latency data communication, and ribbon fibers are well - positioned to meet these demands.
In conclusion, ribbon fibers are at the forefront of a new era in optical communication. With their continuous technological advancements, expanding applications, and growing market influence, they are set to transform the way we communicate, compute, and interact with the world around us. The future looks bright for ribbon fibers, and their impact on various industries is only expected to grow in the years to come.
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Hollow - Core Fibers: Paving the Way for a New Era of Optical Technologies
2025-05-21
In the dynamic realm of optical technology, hollow - core fibers are emerging as a revolutionary force, poised to reshape multiple industries with their unique attributes and capabilities. These innovative fibers, which guide light through an air - filled or gas - filled core rather than a traditional solid - glass core, are unlocking a plethora of possibilities that were previously out of reach.
Exceptional Advantages Driving Growth
Hollow - core fibers offer several remarkable advantages over their solid - core counterparts. Firstly, they exhibit significantly lower signal attenuation and dispersion. Since light travels faster in air than in glass, the latency in hollow - core fibers is substantially reduced. In fact, studies have indicated that the propagation speed of light in these fibers can be up to 47% faster, and the transmission delay can be cut by approximately 30% compared to conventional fibers. This makes them highly suitable for applications where high - speed, low - latency data transfer is crucial, such as high - frequency trading in the financial sector, where every microsecond counts, and real - time data processing in large - scale data centers.
Secondly, hollow - core fibers demonstrate much lower non - linear optical effects. In traditional fibers, non - linearities can distort signals, especially at high power levels. However, with the reduced interaction of light with the fiber material in hollow - core fibers, these non - linear effects are minimized. This property is of great importance for high - precision applications like long - distance optical communication systems and advanced medical imaging technologies, where accurate signal transmission is essential.
Expanding Horizons Across Industries
The potential applications of hollow - core fibers span a wide range of industries. In the telecommunications industry, they hold the key to upgrading existing fiber - optic networks. As the demand for bandwidth - intensive services such as 8K video streaming, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to surge, hollow - core fibers, with their ability to support higher data rates over longer distances with lower latency, are well - positioned to meet these challenges. Microsoft's plan to deploy 15,000 kilometers of hollow - core fibers in the next 24 months for AI and data center connectivity, to enhance network capacity and computing power, is a testament to their growing significance in this field.
In the medical field, hollow - core fibers are being explored for use in advanced imaging and diagnostic devices. Their low - loss and high - power handling capabilities enable the efficient delivery of light for techniques such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), which is used for non - invasive imaging of biological tissues. They could also play a crucial role in minimally invasive surgical procedures, where precise delivery of laser energy is required. For instance, in ophthalmic surgeries and tumor treatments, hollow - core fibers can accurately transmit high - energy laser beams, enabling minimally invasive and highly precise treatments.
The energy sector is another area where hollow - core fibers could have a transformative impact. In long - distance power transmission using laser - based wireless power transfer systems, these fibers could be used to guide and focus high - power laser beams, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the energy transfer process. Additionally, in optical sensing applications, such as gas detection and temperature monitoring, hollow - core fibers' excellent laser transmission capabilities allow for more accurate and efficient sensing, and the market demand for such applications is expected to grow with the expansion of the Internet of Things.
A Promising Future on the Horizon
The future of hollow - core fibers looks extremely promising. Market research indicates a bright outlook, with the global hollow - core fiber market projected to reach 17.99 million US dollars by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.64% from 2024 - 2029, as reported by Coherent Market Insights. Similarly, the global hollow - core photonic crystal fiber market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.42% from 2024 - 2029, reaching 314 million yuan by 2029, according to a report by Hunan Big Wisdom Information Consulting Co., Ltd.
Ongoing research and development efforts are focused on further improving the performance of hollow - core fibers. Scientists are exploring new materials, fiber geometries, and manufacturing techniques to enhance their capabilities. Integration with nanotechnology also holds great potential, as nanostructured materials and coatings can be used to optimize the fiber's optical properties, opening up new applications and improving performance.
As hollow - core fiber technology continues to mature and become more widely available, it is expected to drive down costs and accelerate its adoption across various sectors. This will ultimately lead to a more connected, efficient, and innovative world, where high - speed, reliable optical communication and sensing technologies are the norm. With their unique advantages and expanding applications, hollow - core fibers are set to be at the forefront of the next wave of technological advancements in the optical realm.
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Multimode OM3 and OM4 Fibers Drive the Innovation of Data Center Network Architecture
2025-04-25
Multimode OM3 and OM4 Fibers Drive the Innovation of Data Center Network Architecture
In recent years, with the rapid development of cutting - edge technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence, the scale and data processing capacity of data centers have experienced explosive growth. Against this backdrop, multimode OM3 and OM4 fibers are leading the innovation trend of data center network architecture.
In the network architecture of data centers, traditional network transmission methods are gradually falling short in the face of the high - speed processing requirements of massive data. The emergence of OM3 multimode fiber has brought new vitality to the data center network. It has excellent bandwidth performance. In the 850 - nm transmission window, it has an over - filled bandwidth of up to 1500 MHz·km and an equivalent bandwidth of 2000 MHz·km. This enables it to transmit data at high speeds and in large volumes in the horizontal cabling and backbone connections within the data center. When connecting servers in different racks within the data center, OM3 fiber can ensure the rapid and stable transmission of data, effectively reducing data transmission delays and greatly improving the overall performance of the internal network of the data center.
OM4 multimode fiber has achieved a leap in performance based on OM3. It has a higher bandwidth, with an effective modal bandwidth of 4700 MHz·km at 850 nm, making it perform even more outstandingly in supporting high - speed data transmission. In large - scale data centers, a large number of servers and storage devices need to be interconnected at high speeds. OM4 fiber can easily handle such a complex network environment. It can achieve a long - distance transmission of 550 meters at a rate of 10 Gbps, and when supporting 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps Ethernet transmissions, it can also reach a transmission distance of 150 meters. This characteristic enables data centers to plan the device layout more flexibly when designing the network architecture, reducing the layout troubles caused by transmission distance limitations, and thus building a more efficient and reasonable network architecture.
As the requirements of data centers for network transmission performance continue to increase, OM3 and OM4 multimode fibers, with their excellent bandwidth and transmission distance advantages, are gradually becoming the key driving forces for the innovation of data center network architecture. They not only improve the transmission efficiency of the internal network of data centers but also provide broad space for the future upgrade and expansion of data centers, helping data centers move forward in the technological wave.
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