Research Programme for Telecommunications (RPT)
The RPT programme investigates urgent problems in 4G in order to provide the end
user with simple broadband-based access to services. Research focuses
specifically on:
- intelligent access technologies;
- ad-hoc networking;
- smart equipment, which will allow the user easy access to the advanced complex 4G networks and services;
- ultra wideband networks, which can be used to establish broadband-based, wireless links in homes and offices, and which are a lot less sensitive to walls
and other obstacles than existing technologies;
- complete optical networks, in order to make the integration of fixed, mobile and wireless networks as efficient as possible.
Six projects realise the Research Programme for Telecommunications:
Ultra Wideband (UWB) is a promising technology for broadband-based, short-
distance wireless communication. It is anticipated that the equipment will be
compact and cheap, and bandwidth will be in excess of one Gigahertz. In
addition, transmission power is very low compared to existing technologies. The
AIRLINK project investigates the possibilities of UWB for, for instance, home
networks that utilise high-quality multimedia communication. In addition it
investigates the possibilities of UWB for combining data communication and
localising and establishing ad-hoc networks
Most base stations and terminals consist of components with a set function. They
are efficient, but not flexible. In the event of small changes to the standards
the components need to be re-designed. The AWGN project aims to develop methods
and technologies that telecom providers can use to produce adaptable, efficient
and reconfigurable base stations and terminals. It is then the application
software, not the component that makes the system specific. This simplifies, for
instance, the transition from third to fourth generation networks, or ensures
that the system adapts to its environment.
The CACTUS project aims to develop a personalised assistant, also referred to as
an i-DEA (intelligent Device acting as Electronic Agent). This assistant ensures
that the user always has optimum access to the wireless networks that are
available at a given time. In addition, the assistant ensures a natural
interaction with the portable computer whereby, in a given set of circumstances,
the wishes, requirements and personal profile of the user are met in the most
optimised manner.
Polymer fibre optic cable is a new type of cable that is extremely suitable for
applications in a home network. The cable has a higher transmission capacity
than twisted pair (telephony) or coaxial cables (TV), and because of its larger
diameter and flexibility, this cable is easier to install and connect than
single-mode fibre optic cable. Using Mode Group Diversity Multiplexing, whereby
individual groups within the total wave mode group form separate transmission
channels, the MGDM project aims to further increase the transmission capacity of
these cables.
Optical Time Domain Multiplexing (OTDM) is a technology that combines several
signal flows into one flow of pulses and modulates this flow on one wavelength
of the light (channel). This way, the capacity of fibre optic cable networks can
be expanded considerably (from 40 Gb/s to 160 Gb/s per channel), while, compared
to existing division multiplexing technologies, the network management becomes
simpler and cheaper. The project aims to develop a complete optical technology
that can add, or extract, a specific data flow of 40 Gb/s to or from an OTDM
flow.
Communication hubs, such as network switches, form important bottlenecks in
modern, fast fibre optics networks. The current state of the technology offers
250 GHz as a maximum speed. In order to safeguard communication networks against
congestion in the future, ultra-fast communication hubs are required. The TUC
project aims to develop a prototype optical chip with a processing speed of at
least 1 Terahertz. Minuscule lasers, optical switches and mirrors are placed in
an integrated circuit with the aid of nanotechnology.
For further information about any of these projects, or information about
participation in the RPT programme, please contact:
Technologiestichting STW
Frank Karelse
Postbus 3021
3502 GA Utrecht
Tel: 030 - 6001268
Fax: 053 - 6014408
E-mail: freeband@stw.nl
