57 Mbps is on record for the optical fiber transmission speed

Researchers at the University of Illinois have set a new record in terms of data transmission speed of optical fiber. Thanks to the oxide-VCSEL technology developments the researchers were able to have a speed of 57Gbps without errors and, especially, at ambient temperature thus eliminating the need of having to use cooling systems for proper operation. Even at the temperature of 85 ° C, the technology is able to support a transmission speed of 50Gbps.
Milton Feng, professor of electrical engineering and computing, said: "Our challenge has always been to be able to transmit information faster. There are a lot of data in the world, but if the transmission is not fast enough you can not use the data collected, you can not use future technologies that use large data streams, such as virtual reality. the direction to the fiber optic communications will grow because there is a high data transfer rates, especially in the long run. "
The team of researchers led by Feng has been working for some time to the technology VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) and in 2014 was the first group in the United States to achieve a transmission speed of 40Gbps with no errors. It is a technology that allows the production of lasers on a single semiconductor wafer and that allows to produce a uniform radiation, coherent and single-mode, the ideal characteristics for the data transmission applications of optical fiber.
Being able to reach high speeds at high temperatures is rather difficult because of the nature of the materials used that behave better at low temperatures. "And 'why data centers are refrigerated and have cooling systems. For data centers and for commercial applications is preferable to a device that does not require a refrigerator to be used. The device must be operating at room temperature and up to 85 degrees without having to spend resources for cooling.
The researchers emphasize that it is a technology that can be used not only for the data center, but also for aeronautical use, since the optical fibers are much lighter than copper.