Scientists develop method to make broadband faster

Washington: Scientists have developed a new optical fibre technology to transmit ten times more data over existing cables, which will boost the capacity of broadband networks and give better download time worldwide. An international team, led by Monash University, has pioneered the innovation which is known as optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (oOFDM), according to Economic Times.

Team Leader, Professor Arthur Lowery said there was an exponential growth in data - intensive internet applications. "More and more people are accessing broadband internet and using it for data-heavy activities, such as video. This poses a major challenge to the existing optical fibre infrastructure unless the capacity or bandwidth on existing fibres can be augmented."

The technology applies Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) principles - already used to expand the capacity of data transfer over traditional copper and wireless broadband - to optical fibre cables, potentially increasing their data capacity tenfold.

"The appeal of oOFDM is that it offers an inexpensive means of dramatically increasing long-haul capacity from the current transmission rate of 10 Gigabits per second to more than 100 Gigabits per second, over new and existing optical fibre," said Lowery.