OFC 2020 to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Light-Speed Technologies

Posted  by GoPhotonics

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The 2020 Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) conference and exhibition, the world’s largest event for optical communications and networking professionals, will celebrate the half-century milestone of two breakthrough technologies - low-loss optical fiber and room-temperature semiconductor lasers - under a celebration titled ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Light-speed Connections’. The event is scheduled to be held from 8-12 March, 2020 at the San Diego Convention Center in California, U.S.A.

Low-loss optical fiber and Room-temperature semiconductor lasers technologies came together in 1970 to transform global communications and enable light-speed connections across continents and oceans. The development of high-performance, low-loss optical fiber coupled with the critical technology of room temperature semiconductor lasers created a watershed moment in telecommunications. Subsequent improvements in these and other technologies paved the way for greater bandwidth, faster speeds and a more resilient architecture for communication networks. It’s hard to image the world without the near instantaneous access to information, entertainment and services.

The special programming associated with this 50th anniversary will feature a dedicated keynote address, a show-floor exhibit on the history of fiber optics and a reception. Corning Incorporated will be the Innovator Sponsor of the reception.

Time for a Revolution in Telecommunications

By the middle of the 20th century, data and communications were hitting a major bottleneck. Most long-distance communications relied on electrical signals flowing along bulky copper wires. The fundamental technology of this network was both expensive and limiting in the amount of data it could transmit.  

With a growing demand for greater speed and data capacity, it was clear that a technological revolution was needed. Optical fibers, which were first developed in the early 1950s, were a promising solution, but impurities in the manufacturing process caused signals to attenuate, making long-distance transmission impractical. That hurdle was overcome in 1970 when researchers developed a new generation of low-loss optical fibers that could carry signals over vast distances. Coupling that with the development of room-temperature semiconductor lasers, the powerful-yet-compact light sources to carry the data, the pieces were in place to transform communications and build a new information superhighway.

Modern Impact of Innovation

Over the past several decades, numerous other breakthroughs have led to increases in bandwidth and a greater reach for fiber links, enabling the World Wide Web, video streaming, trans-oceanic high capacity links, high-capacity wireless communications and many other data services. Today, thanks to these innovations, nearly 100,000 gigabytes of data travel the globe every second through millions of kilometers of optical fibers.

Timeline of Innovation Exhibit

OFC will unveil a unique show-floor exhibit that will encompass 50 years of optical fiber innovations: from the first demonstration of low-loss fiber in 1970 to efficient 400 gigabit Ethernet transport at any distance today. The event attendees will be able to browse the timeline of these milestones and see the progression of invention through artifacts and imagery.

Special Keynote

Dr. David Welch, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Infinera Corporation, will present a special keynote on Tuesday, 10 March, 18:15 – 19:00 PDT looking back at 50 years of discovery in optical fiber technology and its impact on society. His talk will also include a brief glimpse into the near-term future to see how fiber optics will continue to extend and enhance light-speed connections. This keynote will be followed by a specially themed reception.

Registration for the event is already open. Register before 10 February 2020 and save on a full technical conference pass.

Click here for more updates on OFC 2020.