BOUNDLESS project secures 6.9-million-pound investment to explore the future of fibre optic systems<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n
A group of researchers from the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) and University College London (UCL) have secured a major \u00a36.9 million award from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), to lead an ambitious six-year programme exploring the next generation of fibre optic technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The project titled, “”Boundless Light: Fibre Optic Systems Unconstrained by Glass Properties (BOUNDLESS),”” will run from September 2026 to August 2032 and brings together researchers from the ORC and UCL, working alongside 28 academic and industrial partners from the UK and overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Periklis Petropoulos<\/em> pictured below<\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, the development of hollow-core fibres has become a primary focus in fibre optics research. Hollow-core fibres are an emerging class of fibres that guide light through an air or vacuum-filled core rather than solid glass. The UK in particular pioneers this technology, having developed hollow-core fibres with transmission losses lower than those of conventional solid-core single-mode fibres across the near-infrared spectrum, a milestone long considered essential for widespread deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The development of hollow-core fibres shows great potential for revolutionising optical fibre technology. BOUNDLESS is an ambitious project, that seeks to drive this revolution by harnessing the unique capabilities of hollow-core optical fibres. The programme will investigate how future systems can be built around these fibres, enabling transformative advances in two key areas: optical communications and fibre optic sensing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In optical communications, hollow-core fibres offer the potential to overcome many of the limitations associated with conventional glass fibres, including material losses and nonlinear effects that can restrict performance. By removing these constraints, the technology could support future communication networks with significantly greater capacity, improved reliability and enhanced energy efficiency, helping meet the growing global demand for data transmission in a more sustainable way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The project will also explore the application of hollow-core fibres in fibre optic sensing. Hollow-core fibres provide new capabilities for detecting gases and particles and can operate in challenging environments where traditional sensing technologies may be limited. These advances could support applications ranging from environmental monitoring and pollution detection to industrial process control and public health monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To realise these goals, the BOUNDLESS programme will develop a comprehensive ecosystem of supporting component technologies designed to make the best use of the capabilities of hollow-core fibres. This includes the development of new optical fibre designs and amplifiers. Recognising the importance of large-scale integration in today\u2019s optical systems, the project will also look to advance novel integrated photonic platforms. This holistic approach will help shape the next generation of communication and sensing infrastructures by enabling them to fully exploit the unique advantages of hollow-core fibre technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This project is led by Professor Periklis Petropoulos from the ORC and includes co-leads, Professor Sir David Payne, Professor Frederic Gardes, Professor Jayanta Sahu, Professor Natalie Wheeler, Dr Yongmin Jung, Dr Gregory Jasion, Dr Kyle Bottrill, and Dr Hans Christian Mulvad, from the ORC, together with co-leads Professor Alwyn Seeds, Professor Huiyun Liu, Professor Michael Wale and Dr Mingchu Tang from UCL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/magazines.soton.ac.uk\/feps\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/10\/Periklis-Petroploulos.png\")
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