Laboratories for Broadband Optical and Wireless Systems (LBOWS)

LBOWS works with industrial and academic partners to advance the state of the art in optical and wireless communications. The laboratories are equipped to support a wide range of experimental and theoretical research and development in specific optical and wireless communications areas, including optical-fibre communications, optical-interconnect devices and technologies, optical-network design and implementation, wireless-network resource allocation and virtualized wireless networks. The labs are equipped with state-of-the-art test and measurement equipment, enabling research and development at the device, subsystem and systems level. Industrial partners routinely make use of these facilities to perform functions such as (a) test and characterize prototype devices, (b) develop and validate signal-processing ideas and (c) validate new-product concepts. In addition to a vibrant community of industrial partners, many fundamental and applied research “firsts” have been realized using the infrastructure available at LBOWS. In addition to CFI support, LBOWS facilities are managed and maintained by a team of research engineers from the Centre for Advanced Systems and Technologies in Communications/Centre de recherche sur les systèmes et les technologies avancés en communications (SYTACom), a Regroupement stratégique funded by Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies (FRQNT). In combination, LBOWS and SYTACom professors, students and research professionals operate the LBOWS facility for maximum research and development outcomes.