Open Fiber S.p.A. is a wholesale-only network operator in Italy, specialized in the deployment and management of fiber optic infrastructures. The company is committed to expanding FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) connectivity nationwide, enabling advanced digital services and supporting the transition toward a more connected and sustainable society.

Enabling sensing innovation on operational access and backbone networks

Open Fiber brings its expertise in optical network management and integration of sensing technologies on operational infrastructures to the SENSEI project. The company will provide real-world testbeds for experiments on PON (Passive Optical Network) and DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) backbone networks and ensure that new sensing techniques are compatible with the operational constraints of commercial networks. Open Fiber will contribute to building a data collection and processing infrastructure, making processed information available to the relevant stakeholders who will benefit from these insights.

Advancing fiber-optic sensing innovation for seismic and environmental monitoring Open Fiber has pioneered projects such as MEGLIO, aimed at detecting seismic signals on operational DWDM fibers, and FAAS (Fiber As A Sensing), which explores State of Polarization (SOP) analysis for environmental monitoring. Additionally, under the NextGenerationEU program, Open Fiber participates in initiatives like RIGOLETTO and SENSING NET, focused on advanced optical network design and leveraging fibers for civil and infrastructure risk monitoring.

Experimental layout. Seismic monitoring using the telecom fiber network from MEGLIO project (S. Donadello et al. Communications Earth&Environment, 2024). Open Fiber collaborated with partners to create a seismic observatory that uses a pair of Open Fiber optical fibers deployed between Ascoli Piceno and Teramo.

Laying the groundwork for resilient, sensing-enabled networks

Open Fiber expects SENSEI to demonstrate the concept of “network as a sensor” on its infrastructures, paving the way for innovative services in civil protection, environmental monitoring, and network resilience. The company aims to evaluate the integration of these technologies into its operational systems and explore opportunities for commercial exploitation and patenting of the developed methodologies.

…more to come! Stay tuned…