ptical fibre is at the heart of our modern

With the current data rate explosion in data centre applications , managing energy consumption and developing sustainable solutions are becoming paramount considerations in optical fibre network expansions , a trend that is likely to accelerate .

Fibre is integral to some of the technological advances that are driving the future . AI and Machine Learning techniques – the engine of data driven decision making – use fibre optic meshed networks to connect massive amounts of data to processing machines at high speeds . The rise of remote working , video conferencing and the ability to connect to any customer , colleague or family member anywhere in the world , while on the move , is enabled by a worldwide network of fibre optic cables .

Virtual connection , technological advancement and desires for machines to function faster have inevitably led to data centres becoming more resource hungry . Industry experts at Corning Incorporated – Aislin Sullivan , Program Director , Sustainability ; Dr Pushkar Tandon , Corporate Fellow ; and Dr Roshene McCool , Senior Market and Technology Development Manager – and Sphera Solutions ’ Amalia Diaz and Dr Ing . Constantin Herrmann – assess data from Corning ’ s LCA study and explore how optical fibre can reduce carbon footprint and prepare sustainable operations for decades to come .

In addition to enabling massive bandwidth , optical fibre networks offer environmental benefits over traditional telecommunications networks that use copper . Low energy consumption , low maintenance and future readiness are among the most evident advantages and have been quantified extensively . Less often talked about is the embodied carbon of optical fibre .

Embodied carbon

The embodied carbon associated with raw material extraction , manufacturing , transportation and End-of-Life of network

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