The Optical Networks Research Activity is involved in studies of optical networks on all time and length scales with close interactions with industry and other leading research groups around the World. Our ability to explore fundamental physics (in the Photonics activity) of new opto-electronic devices through to high-speed optical systems and networks research is a particular strength, and unique among UK universities.

The Optical Networks Group has developed an unique experimental recirculating loop-based terabit ultiwavelength optical network test-bed for the characterisation of new devices and high capacity optical transmission and networks research. This enables the isolation and study of optical fibre nonlinearities and the optimisation of transmission; the area of electronic compensation of linear and nonlinear transmission impairments is a new development for the Group.

In the area of dynamic vs static optical network architectures, we have proposed the new approach of wavelength-routed optical burst switching.

The Group has extensive collaborative links with many other universities and industry worldwide.