The world's first all-optical network switch for ultra-low power, ultra-low latency for future telecommunications networks

Finchetto has developed the world's first entirely passive ethernet network switch. The first prototype was funded by an InnovateUK SMART grant and delivers 40x lower latency, rate-unlimited switching (there is no electronic switching control so switching is done at the speed of the surrounding transceivers), all for 26x lower power than state-of-the-art.

This SBRI grant seeks to take this TRL6 level technology and in collaboration with design partner, British Telecom (BT), looks to understand and perform a full techno-economic analysis of all use cases within the UK's telecommunications network infrastructure. Then, based on BT's stringent product requirements, Finchetto will develop the world's first passive optical telecommunications switch to deliver the future of high-speed, low power, low maintenance, secure optical networks.

The switch is applicable to multiple network segments e.g. multi tenanted buildings, campuses, private 5G backhaul, OpenRan, Smartcities, rural/dense urban broadband and will deliver a faster, more sustainable telecommunications infrastructure. The market opportunity is currently forecast at £41bn.