At OFC 2025, widely regarded as the premier international event for optical networking, researchers from the CONNECT Centre at Trinity College Dublin are highlighting Ireland’s leadership in cutting-edge communications research.
With over 13,500 attendees from across the globe, OFC is the leading conference for unveiling research and technology shaping the future of optical communications. This year’s event places a strong spotlight on AI, quantum networking, next-generation data centres, and sustainability—areas where CONNECT researchers are making significant contributions.
Dr Devika Dass: Top-Scoring Paper at OFC 2025
Dr Devika Dass, a Research Fellow at the CONNECT Centre, is presenting one of the highest-scoring papers accepted at OFC 2025, marking a major achievement for both her research and CONNECT Research Ireland Centre.
Her talk, titled “Coexistence of Digital Coherent, MmWave and sub-THz Analog RoF Services Using OSaaS Over Converged Access-Metro Live Production Network”, showcases a demonstration of hybrid digital and analogue signal transmission across a live metro network. Dass demonstrate the end-to-end transmission of digital coherent and analog radio-over-fiber signals, at mmWave and sub-THz frequencies, over the HEAnet live production metro network using Optical Spectrum-as-a-Service (OSaaS), transparently connected to a passive optical network.
Devika’s co-authors include collaborators from Dublin City University, HEAnet, and CONNECT’s own Professor Daniel Kilper and Professor Marco Ruffini.
Presentation Details
Date & Time: 31 March 16:30 – 16:45 (UTC – 07:00)
More Info: OFC 2025 Schedule
Agastya Raj: Real-Time Interference Detection
Agastya Raj will present on “Real-Time Streaming Telemetry-Based Detection and Mitigation of OOK and Power Interference in Multi-User OSaaS Networks.”
His team developed a telemetry-driven framework capable of detecting rogue On-Off Keying (OOK) signals and user-generated power interference within 10 seconds of occurrence, achieving up to 89% detection accuracy. The experimental validation was carried out on the OpenIreland testbed, a national programmable networking testbed hosted by CONNECT.
The work, co-authored with Dr Devika Dass, Professor Kilper, and Professor Ruffini, paves the way for more robust, secure, and responsive optical networks in shared environments.
Presentation Details
Date & Time: 31 March 15:30 – 15:45 (UTC – 07:00)
More Info: OFC 2025 Schedule
Dr Merim Dzaferagic: Open Source RAN & Virtualised PON Demonstration
Dr Merim Dzaferagic will deliver a live demonstration of a Cooperative Transport Interface over Open Source 7.2 Split RAN and Virtualised Open PON Network. This work represents a significant step toward unifying mobile and fixed network infrastructures using open, virtualised, and software-defined technologies.
Presented as part of the OFCnet showcase on the exhibition floor, Merim’s demo highlights the role of cooperative transport and open platforms in future disaggregated network architectures.
Demonstration Details
Date & Time: 31 March 2025, 14:00 – 14:00 (UTC – 07:00)
More Info: OFC 2025 Schedule
CONNECT at the Forefront of Innovation
From high-scoring technical papers to real-world demonstrations, CONNECT researchers are showcasing Ireland’s expertise in next-generation optical networks. Their contributions underscore the Centre’s mission to drive innovation across academia, industry, and public infrastructure through collaborative, forward-looking research.