720738Ten gigabit Optical tRansceiver iNtegrAteD circuit for pOn applicationsClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKIncreasing demand for bandwidth-intensive applications by businesses and domestic consumers, along with the emerging ‘Internet of Things’, is straining our broadband networks and could lead to data demand outpacing supply. The EU Fibre to the Home (FTTH) Council states that “fast broadband infrastructure is now a determining factor in ensuring the economic fortunes of cities and regions”. With Ofcom reporting that average UK speeds were 15Mbps in 2013, the UK’s current infrastructure is barely capable of servicing existing demand. It is clear that much needs to be done, when one considers that the EU, through Europe’s Digital Agenda, has set targets of universal fast broadband (30Mbps) and >50% take up of ultra-highspeed broadband (100Mbps) by 2020. Passive Optical Networks (PON) provide the majority of the world’s fibre-optic broadband. Although the fibre optic cable within PONs can provide practically unlimited bandwidth (1- 4Tbps), the high cost of current technology dictates that PON’s current capability is restricted to 2.5Gbps. HiLight Semiconductor Ltd has devised a Proof of Concept for a highly innovative approach to upgrading a critical juncture of PON in order to deliver 10Gbps speeds. Our approach is simple and inexpensive, outperforming all existing alternatives. We are now ready for the next step which is to develop the concept through to a successful prototype stage. Within 5 years of completing this project (2022) we expect our solution to generate cumulative revenue and profit of £28million and £20million respectively, in turn creating 52 highly skilled world-class jobs.