Author Archives

Liz Goldsmith

Ransomware attackers are setting the agenda in cybersecurity

Following news that Royal Mail has been hit by a ransomware attack, David Bicknell, principal analyst on the Thematic Intelligence team at GlobalData, offers his view on how companies can improve their cybersecurity measures.
“This attack is a sharp reminder that no company is immune from attack,” he said. “The silver lining is that an attack like this should jolt every chief executive into scrutinizing their cyber-readiness plans.

From Glass Fiber to Coherent Transmission and Pluggable Optics: The Evolution and Future of Optical Networks

During the last decade, a new technology called coherent transmission made enormous scaling in optical network transmission possible. Combining the technology of digital signal processors (DSPs) with the application of phase modulation techniques (also common in mobile networks) to optical signals, coherent transmission technology enabled a further 100-fold increase in wavelength speed over what was possible with OOK technology since it was first introduced a decade ago.

The optical fiber that keeps data safe even after being twisted or bent

Physicists at the University of Bath in the UK have developed a new kind of fiber designed to enhance the robustness of networks. This robustness could prove to be especially important in the coming age of quantum networks. The team has fabricated optical fibers that can protect light using the mathematics of topology. Best of all, these modified fibers are easily scalable, meaning the structure of each fiber can be preserved over thousands of kilometers.

What’s the Deal with Industry 4.0 (and How Do We Deal with It)?

As industrial revolutions go, Industry 4.0 is decidedly different. Whereas the three preceding industry disruptions focused on making the production process faster and more efficient, the fourth Industrial Revolution is about connecting people, information and processes. As such, it has the potential to radically alter not just the business of manufacturing, but how enterprises of all kinds operate.

Why FiberLert is a Game Changer in Fiber Optics

FiberLert is essentially a voltage detector-like tool from the electrical world that has been reinvented to work in the fiber world, a fiber optic tester that is hypersensitive to the presence of a live optical signal without physical contact. It is not only useful as a troubleshooting and polarity tool, but as a safety tool to verify disconnection prior to inspection with a direct-view inspection scope. It is easy to use with minimal training and is useful in so many ways.