Phoenix CEO Dr Ian Giles, Project Manager of MODE-GAP, talks to Opli-net

April 2013

A day with no internet and no phones? It could be nearer than you know

Within a telecoms world dominated by new devices and apps, a simple fact that seems to be passing everyone by, is that today’s networks are reaching a capacity crunch as current technology reaches the limits of its capability. Science is struggling to keep ahead of demand so badly that current technology is set to reach its capacity limits within the next 20 years – meaning that if nothing is done, the networks will crash and the telephones won’t even work, never mind the internet. 

Follow the link to read the rest of the article: http://www.opli.net/magazine/optical_network/2013/rd_project_MODE-GAP.aspx

Phoenix Photonics to Unveil New SDM Components at OFC 2013

March 2013

Phoenix Photonics, the UK-based optical fiber components specialist, will launch a new range of fiber spatial mode control components, complementing its polarization mode control range, later this month at OFC (19 - 21 March, Anaheim Convention Center, CA, Booth #1710). Phoenix will showcase mode converters for Few Moded Fibers and Photonic Lantern technology for SDM (Space Division Multiplexing).

As a result of its innovative R&D work, Phoenix has the technologies and expertise to manufacture high-quality optical fiber components. The company’s portfolio already includes a very popular range of all-fiber polarization control products. The new components are a result of Phoenix’s research in the EU supported MODE-GAP project, investigating mode division multiplexing for next generation telecommunication networks.

With increasing demands for data, there is a developing market interest in SDM techniques to address the potential capacity crunch. Multimode transmission is a possible solution to meet the industry’s needs, and Phoenix is currently using all-fiber technology to develop a new range of passive spatial mode control components.

Dr. Ian Giles, CEO of the company says: “At Phoenix Photonics, we place a great emphasis on R&D. Our efforts, including both independent and collaborative projects, have allowed us to stay at the forefront of the optics industry. Our knowledge of the industry has always informed our design and technical decisions, and we strive to keep our clients well-prepared for future developments. As usual, we are proud to present our new products at the OFC this March.”

Phoenix primarily provides optical fiber components and modules for telecommunications test and measurement instrumentation and sensing systems. The company also supplies university R&D departments and research establishments developing next generation systems.

ENDS

For further information, or to arrange an interview with Dr. Ian Giles, CEO or Dean Giles, Operations Director at OFC in California from 19 – 21 March, please contact Emma Johnson on +44(0)1636 812152 or by email to emma.johnson@proactive-pr.com.

About Phoenix Photonics

Phoenix Photonics is a UK based manufacturer and R&D specialist in components and instrumentation for fiber optic technology and applications worldwide. It works primarily in optical fiber test and measurement instrumentation for the telecommunications and sensing industries. Phoenix also supplies university R&D departments and research establishments looking to develop next generation technologies and solutions.

Visit us at booth# 1710 OFC/NFOEC 2013

Phoenix Provides Cover Image for IEEE Photonics Technology Letters

January 2013

Phoenix Expands with New Operations and R&D Centre

NEWS RELEASE

October 2012

PHOENIX PHOTONICS EXPANDS WITH NEW OPERATIONS AND R&D CENTRE

New Kent offices and laboratories will allow for increased production and R&D as firm continues to grow

Phoenix Photonics, the UK-based optical fiber components specialist, has relocated operations to larger premises to accommodate growth as it continues to expand.

The company is now based at new facilities near Canterbury in Kent. The new headquarters will provide additional space for production, research and development, and sales and marketing. Phoenix is also recruiting in all areas to support the expansion

“This is a very exciting time for the company. The move is a key milestone in our growth strategy which we initiated three years ago and we are very pleased that we are embarking on this phase of the plan to schedule,” said Phoenix Photonics CEO Dr Ian Giles.

“The quality and strength of the company lies in the team we have and as part of the expansion we are recruiting high quality personnel in all areas of the business”.

The premises are set in a good location offering an excellent working environment. The new laboratories and expanded production space will enable continued company growth.

This announcement comes shortly after Phoenix Photonics had a highly successfully show at ECOC, where it launched two new products as part of its expanded Firebird instrumentation range, the programmable polarization control instrument and an associated polarization controller microprocessor interface.

One of the company’s key goals is to keep its customers in the forefront of market demands, as part of this Phoenix Photonics plays an essential role in the European Commission’s 7th Framework Collaborative R&D project, MODE-GAP – which is researching and looking to develop the technologies required to manage and operate networks capable of handling up to 100 times greater capacity than is possible with current solutions.

Ends

For further information, please contact Emma Johnson or Brian Dolby on +44(0)1636 812152 or by email to emma.johnson@proactive-pr.com or brian.dolby@proactive-pr.com.

About Phoenix Photonics

Phoenix Photonics is a UK based manufacturer and R&D specialist in components and instrumentation for fiber optic technology and applications worldwide. It works primarily in optical fiber test and measurement instrumentation for the telecommunications and sensing industries. Phoenix also supplies university R&D departments and research establishments looking to develop next generation technologies and solutions.

Ian Giles talks to ECOC TV, ECOC 2012

Phoenix Expands Firebird Range with New Products to be Unveiled at ECOC Next Week

10 September 2012

Phoenix Expands Firebird Range with New Products to be Unveiled at ECOC Next Week

New microprocessor-driven fibre polarization controllers bring enhanced flexibility for engineers

Phoenix Photonics, the UK-based optical fibre components specialist, will next week unveil two new products as part of its expanded Firebird instrumentation range when it exhibits at the ECOC exhibition, being held in the RAI Conference Centre in Amsterdam (Stand number 614).

ECOC will mark the global launch of a programmable polarization control instrument and an associated polarization controller microprocessor interface.

The microprocessor interface enables the already popular EPC (electronic polarization controller) to be programmed directly from either a desktop or laptop computer through a simple USB interface. It is totally compatible with the existing Firebird control software and additional interface software is also available for engineers who wish to write their own control programme.

The polarization control instrument integrates the EPC and the PCI into a single bench-top instrument. Fully compatible with the Firebird control software, USB and RS232 standard communication links and optional GPIB and Ethernet links are also available.  Additional functionality is included in the bench-top version.

“The analogue controllable EPC has proved very popular with customers and we have developed the new Microprocessor Interface and Windows-based software for programming the polarization transfer function in the fibre in response to their requirements,” said Dr. Ian Giles, CEO of Phoenix Photonics.

“The bench-top instrument brings together both modules into a compact, easy-to-use format, allowing us to introduce additional functionality to widen flexibility. We are particularly pleased, in line with customer expectations, that the technology we use allows us to offer them world-class quality instruments at a highly competitive price,” he added.

In addition to the new Firebird products, Phoenix will also be showing its full range of components, modules and instruments.

At the associated conference, Dr. Giles will also be presenting a paper on a novel method to de-multiplex and measure the modes in Few Mode Fibre (FMF) called, “Method to Visualise and Measure Individual Modes in Few Mode Fibres (FMF)”. This will be presented on Tuesday, September 18. (Paper TU.1.F.5).

“At Phoenix Photonics we invest heavily in R&D for future products and utilizing our expertise in polarization control, together with our in-house proprietary technology in fibre handling, we are investigating methods for mode control in Few Mode Fibres (FMF). These have great potential for future telecommunications systems and the work I will be presenting is part of that activity,” said Dr Giles.

ENDS

For further information, or to arrange an interview with Dr. Ian Giles, CEO or Dean Giles, Operations Director at ECOC in Amsterdam from 17 – 19 September, please contact Emma Johnson or Brian Dolby on +44(0)1636 812152 or by email to emma.johnson@proactive-pr.com or brian.dolby@proactive-pr.com.

About Phoenix Photonics

Phoenix Photonics is a UK based manufacturer and R&D specialist in components and instrumentation for fibre optic technology and applications worldwide. It works primarily in optical fibre test and measurement instrumentation for the telecommunications and sensing industries. Phoenix also supplies university R&D departments and research establishments looking to develop next generation technologies and solutions.

ECOC Exhibition September 17th - 19th 2012. Stand # 614

Visit us this year at booth #614

Phoenix will be showcasing its full range of polarization components and equipment at the ECOC show. Look out for a live demo of Phoenix’s benchtop polarization controller.

Follow Phoenix Photonics on Twitter

Follow @phoenixphotonic

Phoenix Photonics showcases Firebird Instrumentation portfolio at OFC

NEWS RELEASE

27 February 2011

Phoenix Photonics, the UK-based optical fiber components specialist, will next week unveil two additions to its Firebird Instrumentation product range at OFC (6 - 8 March, booth #2637) as part of a widening portfolio of equipment for the global fiber optics market. The Firebird range launched in September last year with the programmable 4-channel polarization controller gives customers a “plug and play” capability to manage polarization issues.

“We are tremendously excited by the response we have had to Firebird,” says Dean Giles, Operations Director of Phoenix Photonics.

“The polarization scrambling module, designed for integration into polarization test and measurement equipment, and the interface module for our EPC controller represents the next step along our roadmap to realize a series of high quality module and instrument products.”

Utilizing the same technology developed for the 4-channel controller the new compact Polarization Scrambler module is pre-programmed to provide random or scanned polarization for any input state requiring only a simple DC bias. The EPC interface enables direct PC control of the EPC polarization controller.

Phoenix will be displaying its range of polarization products in conjunction with new components that utilize all-fiber technology to stretch the operational wavelength, and fiber type. The Company, which is a technology partner in the 7th Framework EU funded project MODE-GAP, will be showing component developments from their work in the project including:

• LP01 to LP11 tunable mechanical and in-fiber LPG Mode Converters
• 2 micron coupler and polarization control components

“Working with key European researchers in MODE-GAP has enabled us to define and investigate fiber components based on our in-house technology and we are very pleased to be able to release initial products from the work at this early stage. There will be much more to come,” comments Dr Ian Giles, CEO of Phoenix Photonics and Project Manager of MODE-GAP. “It is an exciting time for the company, being able to develop our product range on two fronts, and being part of the process to develop next generation telecommunications systems.”

MODE-GAP is a key project seeking to provide Europe with a lead in the development of the next generation internet infrastructure to address the potential capacity crunch. Combining the expertise of eight world-leading photonics partners, the project is developing transmission technologies based on specialist long-haul transmission fibers, and associated enabling technologies such as novel rare-earth doped optical amplifiers, transmitter and receiver components and data processing techniques to increase the capacity of broadband networks.

Phoenix primarily provides optical fiber components and modules for telecommunications test and measurement instrumentation and sensing systems. The company also supplies university R&D departments and research establishments developing next generation systems.

For further information, or to arrange an interview with Ian Giles, CEO or Dean Giles, Operations Director at OFC in Los Angeles from 6 – 8 March, please contact Emma Johnson or Brian Dolby on +44(0)1636 812152 or by email to emma.johnson@proactive-pr.com or brian.dolby@proactive-pr.com.

Ends

Phoenix Photonics' CEO Ian Giles interviewed by Total TeleVision

15 September 2011

Ian Giles talks to Total TeleVision about current research investigating potential solutions to avoid future information gridlock in fibre optic networks.

NEWS RELEASE

08 September 2011

Phoenix Photonics to unveil advanced multi-channel polarization controller at ECOC 2011

Phoenix Photonics, the UK based fibre optics specialists, will unveil a new multi-channel polarization controller at this month’s flagship ECOC exhibition in Geneva which will give its customers a “plug and play” capability as they look to manage polarization issues in up to four independent channels simultaneously.

Phoenix (booth number 1363) will be showing the controller as the first product in its Firebird range of instrumentation equipment as it looks to further develop its offering to meet customer demands.

“At Phoenix, we are all about customers. With Firebird, we have responded to customer requests to provide plug and play instruments incorporating the already-successful Phoenix components and our modular approach will give us the flexibility to provide further developments as we move forward,” said Phoenix Photonics CEO Dr Ian Giles.

The instrument is developed around the already-established Phoenix all-fibre three waveplate polarization controller/scanner. Its benefits include:

• Microprocessor-based control of each individual waveplate
• Easy-to-use PC interface – USB, RS232 and GPIB and Ethernet as options
• All-fibre technology
• Programmable waveforms – sine, square, ramp and user-defined
• Random scrambling option
• Optional channel count up to four
• Benchtop or 19” rack
• Front panel manual control option

Phoenix primarily provides optical fibre test and measurement instrumentation for the telecommunications and sensing industries. The company also supplies University R&D departments and research establishments looking to develop next generation technologies and solutions.

Ends

For further information, or to arrange a meeting with Dr Ian Giles at ECOC 2011 from 19-21 September, please contact Brian Dolby or Emma Johnson on +44(0)1636812152 or by email to brian.dolby@proactive-pr.com or emma.johnson@proactive-pr.com

NEWS RELEASE

16 August 2011

PHOENIX PHOTONICS IN KEY EUROPEAN UNION PROJECT FOR NEXT GENERATION TELECOMMUNICATIONS

UK fiber optic leader to look at innovative components for 100-fold increase on today’s technology limits

Phoenix Photonics, the UK-based fiber optics specialists, is taking part in a key European Union collaborative R&D project to investigate the technologies required to achieve a 100-fold increase on current telecommunications optical fiber-based network capacity limits.

Phoenix is focused on the critical components part of the project as the EU looks to create an innovative new platform to keep pace with world demand as the telecommunications market moves relentlessly towards potential gridlock as the physical capacity limitations of single mode fiber transmission is reached.

“Components providing the functionality of a network are the fundamental building blocks of any system,” said Phoenix Photonics’ CEO Dr Ian Giles.

“The new fibers proposed within the project – known as MODE-GAP – to facilitate spatial division multiplexing, demand a whole new range of components. Our role is to address the challenge to provide these advanced fiber components, which will be based on our proven in-house technologies”.

MODE-GAP is a project funded under the EU 7th Framework Programme. It is seeking to provide Europe with a lead in the development of the next generation internet infrastructure. Combining the expertise of eight world-leading photonics partners, MODE-GAP will develop transmission technologies based on specialist long-haul transmission fibers, and associated enabling technologies such as novel rare-earth doped optical amplifiers, transmitter and receiver components and data processing techniques to increase the capacity of broadband networks.

Other organisations involved alongside Phoenix are the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre, ESPCI ParisTech, OFS Fitel Denmark APS, the COBRA Institute at Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Eblana Photonics Ltd, Nokia Siemens Networks GMBH & Co. KG and the Tyndall National Institute of University College Cork.

Ends

For further information, including a photograph of Ian Giles, please contact Brian Dolby or Emma Johnson on +44(0)1636812152 or by email to brian.dolby@proactive–pr.com or emma.johnson@proactive-pr.com.

ECOC Exhibition September 19th - 21st 2011

 Visit us at booth# 1363  

OFC-NFOEC 2011

March 8th - 10th 2011, booth #1348

ECOC Exhibition September 20th - 22nd 2010

Visit us this year at ECOC booth #274

Fiber Optic Phase Shifter

New Product Release (March 2010)

Phoenix Photonics introduces the new low drive voltage Variable Phase Shifter. The simple to operate all fibre device for wideband operation offers >50pi phase shift as standard, and >150pi by request. Applying a voltage to the pins gives a controlled modification of the phase shift through the device. There are no in-line interfaces allowing the full power handling capacity of the fiber to be utilized and offering a virtually zero excess loss and PDL. This component is supplied in a small compact package with simple electronics, available in single mode (SM) or polarization maintaining (PM) fiber format. The Phase Shifter complements the Power and Wavelength range of products currently available from Phoenix.

Photonics Europe 13th - 15th April 2010

Please visit us at Photonics Europe, April 13th - 15th 2010 in Belgium Brussels, booth #405.

Differential Group Delay Line (DGD)

New Product Release (February 2010)

The Phoenix Photonics differential group delay line (DGD) utilises a compact high linear birefringence fiber to provide an accurate fixed differential delay. Based on the technology developed to manufacture high performance Lyot depolarizers, precise differential time delay coils are fabricated. Time delays can be selected from fixed delays to customer selectable delays. The Phoenix DGD boasts many features including an all-fiber design, passive operation and low insertion loss. The DGD unit is commonly used in PMD compensation applications, sensing and PMD emulators.

Side Polished Optical Fibers

New Product Release (January 2010)

Phoenix Photonics Ltd., has introduced a new product range based on its all fiber technology. Phoenix employs side polishing (evanescent field technology) to manufacture a large range of existing products from Polarizers to VOA’s. Phoenix is now offering the polished fiber substrate as a standalone product. Polished fibers can be useful in optical fiber sensor applications, thermal threshold detection, fiber components, propagation control and much more. Fiber side-polishing technology enables access to the evanescent field of the wave propagating in an optical fiber by removing a section of the cladding. Unlike the more common block mounted technology, this approach provides a surface of defined length parallel to the core. The propagation characteristics of the wave can be modified by the structure and material of the replacement cladding. Variable polished depths and lengths can be achieved to meet the customers requirement.

Electronically Driven Polarization Controller - New improved design

New Product Release (November 2009)

Phoenix Photonics have enhanced their existing polarization management range with the release of the improved bench top electronically driven Polarization Controller. The instrument is based on the Phoenix Polarization Scanner and offers two basic options; a three section manual control with external analogue voltage control in a compact slim-lined bolt on package, or a single channel bench top version. Full state of polarization control is achieved by three cascaded variable fiber waveplates. Control of each individual waveplate describes a complete circle on the Poincaré sphere. The unit allows any SOP to be generated from any arbitrary input SOP. The controller is all-fiber giving nearly zero return loss, very low insertion loss and PDL advantages.

OFS-20 Exhibition

7th & 8th October 2009, Booth#7

New website

Phoenix Photonics launches new website, now available:

• Basic ecommerce functionality
• Technical product briefs
• R&D activities
• New easy to navigate site structure
• New instrumentation & fiber management product range

 Wide Band Polarizer