Rigoletto project

Rigoletto is a Structural Project coordinated by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, in which Open Fiber participates as Task Leader. The project focuses on defining new network architectures, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), and Fiber Sensing.

Open Fiber is particularly active in initiatives related to the transport network architecture, providing useful information for the use of dark fibers and architectures for fiber-optic access segments.

During the first year and a half of the program, Open Fiber collaborated on designing a high energy-efficiency optical network that reduces electronic hops and utilizes new integrated photonic devices exposing control interfaces. Furthermore, Open Fiber engaged in joint research on quantum technologies over existing fiber optic networks and the study of their coexistence with classical systems, sharing some technical specifications and possible application scenarios of QKD within telecommunications infrastructures. Lastly, Open Fiber joined the working group of Grand Challenge 18 to deepen the study on the value of networks for sustainability and technical and architectural solutions for the switch-off of legacy networks.

Expected outcomes of the project include the definition of network orchestration systems, theoretical studies of likely QKD application scenarios in telco networks and verification of their coexistence, development of a detection technology based on telemetry principles for Network Sensing, and the realization of QKD technology demos using already installed Telco infrastructure.