Learnings

Outcomes

Year 2025/2026:

• The current outcome of the project so far is a multi-sensing solution in a compact form-factor conform to telecom industry standards.
• Redesign is ongoing to bring the product to a TRL 8 so it can be eventually used in a live industry environment.
• Software development is ongoing and will also be required to bring the complete product, comprising hardware and software, to TRL 8 mentioned by the end of the project.
   

A field trial was performed in January 2026 on a fibre link suffering from increased loss, with the aim of identifying strain-related degradation.  However, no evidence of elevated strain was detected at the point of interest, and maintenance activities did not result in performance improvement. Brillouin OTDR measurements confirmed this, indicating that the system was operating correctly and providing reliable strain measurement data but did not deliver the hoped-for diagnostic insight into the root cause of the increased loss. At the same time, the system successfully detected physical features (e.g. clamp locations) which proves its sensitivity and measurement capability. 

Lessons Learnt

Year 2025/2026:

• Identifying suitable field trial locations and coordinating arrangements can require more time than initially anticipated, particularly due to the need to align with operational constraints, access requirements, and multiple stakeholders involved in network activities. Future projects should incorporate sufficient lead time for trial planning and mobilisation, ensuring that potential constraints are identified early and factored into project timelines to support smoother execution.
• Effective progress is closely linked to engaging the appropriate stakeholders early in the project lifecycle, particularly where coordination across different teams and expertise areas is required. Projects should prioritise early identification and engagement of key stakeholders, ensuring the right expertise and decision-makers are involved from the outset to streamline approvals, reduce coordination effort, and maintain overall project momentum.

Dissemination 
Year 2025/2026:

OFC 2026 Los Angeles California Dr. Florian Azendorf: Adtran Networks SE - Panel: Optical Sensing as a Service on Transceiver and Fiber Systems: Catering to More than just Telecom Industry.