SMEs and national research institutes cooperated to successfully localize 5G optical communication core components.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on the 29th that it has succeeded in commercializing 11 types of 5G optical communication core components and achieved a total sales of 2.7 billion won.
Optical communication components are key components for building a 5G network network in which high capacity and low latency are essential. In order to process large-scale data, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the optical network.
In addition, the 5G network network requires a more compact base station configuration than 4G LTE, so the application of the wavelength multiplexing (WDM) method rather than the existing point-to-point method is becoming more common.
The wavelength multiplexing method is a method of sending multiple optical signals of different wavelengths through a single fiber.
According to the recent 5G network enhancement plans of telecommunications companies, there is a demand for products of 25 Gbps or higher per channel, so Japan is still highly dependent on core optical components.
Moreover, the trend of small quantity and variety of products requiring the development of separate optical components for each wavelength band due to the expansion of the number of channels of the wavelength multiplexing method and the pressure to shorten the development period to secure a competitive advantage put a great burden on the technology commercialization of optical communication component SMEs.
ETRI’s Honam Area Research Center and optical communication component companies are promoting the commercialization of optical communication components for 5G networks by promoting the’commercialization of optical communication components for intelligent information networks’ since last year with the support of the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency.
This project focuses on supporting technology commercialization and commercialization after R&D of SMEs.
It is being promoted for the purpose of maximizing the success rate of short-term commercialization by supporting SMEs by intensively investing the research capabilities and infrastructure of ETRI’s Honam Research Center and easing the burden of R&D investment of SMEs through the investment of national budget.
ETRI has developed 20 types of optical communication products to date through business promotion.
In particular, in the case of 25 Gbps light source devices, which had absolutely high dependence on Japan, sales performance of about 2 billion won through companies such as Eldis and Oi Solution are showing effects such as import substitution of domestic 5G optical components and entry into the Chinese market. .
In particular, from next year when the market for 25Gbps-class optical communication components for 5G networks is expected to be activated, sales are expected to grow rapidly and ripple effects such as import substitution are expected to be maximized.
Lee Gil-haeng, head of ETRI’s Honam Kwon Research Center, explained, “This achievement reflects customer requirements and maximizes the success rate of commercialization by utilizing the facilities and equipment of the ETRI Optical Packaging Technology Support Center.”
“For the sustainable growth of the optical communication component industry and the success of commercialization, there is a desperate need for a close-up technical support service that can provide practical assistance to SMEs.
Ho-sung Jo, CEO of Eldis, also said, “The development of the 25 Gbps light source device is significant because it has solved a very important task for the domestic optical communication component industry ecosystem.” “The long-term support of ETRI’s researchers on technology and infrastructure has led to the success of commercialization. I made a contribution.”
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The researchers plan to commercialize a total of 10 additional types by next year, including optical communication components for 5G networks and data centers. As a result, sales are expected to reach 8 billion won.
ETRI’s Honam Area Research Center plans to mobilize R&D achievements and infrastructure so far, and continue to support optical communication core component technology independence.