ECTSTATiC

ECSTATIC is a unique initiative that seeks to evaluate the most important fibre-optic sensing techniques in real-life telecommunication infrastructures, integrating high-speed optical communication with distributed sensing, offering real-time data acquisition, monitoring, and analysis. The ECSTATIC project is tackling this challenge head-on.

*New types of fiber sensing: By advancing interferometry and polarization-based sensing, ECSTATIC aims to dramatically improve how well fiber-optic cables can detect vibrations and acoustic signals—whether from an earthquake or a passing train.

*Sensing and data, side by side: One of the project’s breakthroughs is designing sensing systems that can operate alongside live internet traffic, without disrupting it. This makes the technology practical for real-world use.

*Smart signal processing: ECSTATIC will integrate cutting-edge digital signal processing and machine learning, making it possible to detect, classify, and react to environmental changes as they happen.

* Real-time insights: These systems won’t just collect data—they’ll interpret it in real time, offering insights into both the environment and the health of the network itself (like identifying noise, power levels, and nonlinear effects).