Le information and communication technologies (ICT) represent the set of methods and techniques used in the transmission, reception and processing of data and information. This sector includes all technologies related to the access, transmission, manipulation and storage of information in digital format.
Precisely because of this task, ICT plays a significant role in every aspect of contemporary life.
The century of light
The rise of the industry in recent decades is largely favored by two groups of fundamental materials:
- i semiconductors (especially silicon for computers and processing devices),
- il glass (for optical fibers and photonic components).
In particular, the XXI Century can be considered as theEra of Photonics, in recognition of the vital role of light in various fields, from architecture to biology, to medicine and obviously to internet communications.
The ally of information
In this context, it is essential to recognize the value of glass, a complex material with unique potential. Current technological requirements require, in fact, a greater use of its properties in relation to light, of which transparency is only the most evident.
Let us therefore analyze in more detail the role played by this material in the generation, transmission and display of information.
5G and optical fiber
La optical fiber represents the bridge between light and glass. All modern means of communication and information are, in fact, enabled by thin glass threads that can carry light for hundreds of kilometers, before needing optical signal amplification.
To date, the ICT sector is stimulated by a constant search for faster and more performative technologies, of which the 5G represents the upcoming solution.
The development of the internet towards 5G requires a further increase in fiber optic lines. The importance of the glass-light combination is easy to understand from one fact: every year over 500.000.000 kilometers of glass optical fiber for communications are produced globally.
Origins and developments
The pioneering discovery, which led to the adoption of glass to promote the transparency of optical fibers, was made by Charles Kao in 1966.
In the same period it became clear that optical fibers had the ability to outperform metal tubes for long-distance, high-capacity communications.
Therefore, thin-film optical waveguides were designed, in which light is trapped due to the total internal reflections on the top and bottom surfaces.
With the emergence of the field of integrated optics, glass has established itself as a cost-effective and convincing material. With the advantage of full compatibility with optical fibers.
Flexible photonics
Another area in which, more recently, the value of glass has emerged is that of flexible photonics. Its growth mirrored the rapid development of flexible components and devices (LEDs, OLEDs, displays, wearable sensors) in the consumer electronics industry.
In fact, glass can play an important role in this area both as a highly transparent and mechanically, thermally and chemically robust substrate, and as a platform for optical interconnections and sensor applications.
As can be seen from this introduction to the subject, the future of glass will be even brighter than the past. The modernization of infrastructures, autonomous mobility, 5G and quantum communications will in fact make use of the use of very high-capacity glass, capable of protecting security and safeguarding the integrity of information.
To find out more details about the use of glass in this sector click here.
Source: A. Durán and JM Parker, Welcome to the Glass Age, Madrid: CSIC, 2022, pp. 75-91
