Focus on research: Dr Devika Dass, Connect
Dr Devika Dass is a research fellow at Connect, the Research Ireland centre for future networks at Trinity College Dublin. In this interview she talks about her work on smart networks and 6G.
Tell us about your background
I am an engineer with a master’s in communication engineering from VIT University, Vellore, India, completed in 2017. During my master’s, I worked at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory on modelling attenuation in free space optical communication (FSOC) for 5G networks in urban environments (New Delhi). In 2018, I joined the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IITD) as a Research Fellow, where I worked on radio-over-fibre (RoF) technology.
From 2019 to 2023, I worked towards a PhD at Dublin City University, focusing on a novel, ultra-flexible, and low-noise optical source for the generation and transmission of high-frequency 5G-compatible mobile signals at 60GHz. I joined the Connect Research Ireland Centre for Future Networks at Trinity College Dublin as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in 2023. The Connect Centre, being a multidisciplinary hub of research, provided me many opportunities to collaborate with both industry and academia. My research interests now include exploring higher-order data modulation for a converged optical-access network, optical generation of radio frequencies ranging from 30-300GHz, analog radio-over-fibre (ARoF), and FSOC.
What is the key focus area of your research?
I am part of the ECO-eNET project, a Horizon Europe-funded smart networks and services joint undertaking initiative. This project explores a unified edge network that integrates optical and radio transport for scalable and efficient 6G connectivity. My primary focus is on transmitting high-order modulation data over existing metro networks to meet increasing data rate demands. I specialise in communication technologies such as optical heterodyning which employs two laser sources to generate radio frequency (RF) signal and ARoF, which enable seamless optical wireless integration in a spectrally efficient and cost-effective manner.
How can you create more sustainable and energy efficient communication networks?
As capacity demands rise, integrating optical and wireless networks enables multi-gigabit services for end users. Resource and network architecture sharing enhances energy efficiency, while centralising resources further reduces costs and power consumption. A key focus in photonics research is developing power-efficient technologies that support high-capacity advanced data modulation schemes and high-frequency RF signals. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) will play a vital role in cost-effective network scaling by integrating multiple transmitters and modulators on a single chip.
The deployment of higher-order data modulation schemes is essential for meeting the growing demand for higher data rates in fixed-line networks such as datacentres, passive optical networks (PON), and Ethernet. Meanwhile, ARoF technology helps simplify and reduce equipment costs at antenna sites, which will see a surge in connections in future wireless networks. By leveraging these technologies, access networks can efficiently support data-intensive applications and services.
What are the main benefits of converged access networks, particularly when it comes to sustainability?
The converged network architecture seamlessly integrates optical and wireless networks, enhancing connectivity, scalability, and performance while driving sustainability. By leveraging existing infrastructure, it efficiently accommodates growing data demands, reducing redundancy and unnecessary deployments. Centralised resource management and resource sharing across multiple antenna sites further minimize the carbon footprint by eliminating power-hungry equipment at remote locations and optimising resource allocation. This approach is not only cost-effective but also enhances network efficiency. The ECO-eNET project proposes a control and management layer that integrates decision logic to optimise network instances from technical, economic, and energy perspectives, ensuring feasibility, economic viability, and sustainability.
Are there any future directions that excite you in your area?
A significant advancement is the development of highly frequency-flexible, PIC-based solutions, including optical switches, lasers, and modulators on a single chip. Additionally, the development of advanced transmission technologies will help create a more efficient ‘wall-to-plug’ performance. Another major innovation we are currently working on at the Connect centre is the provision of optical spectrum-as-a-service (OSaaS), which promotes the reusability and sharing of network resources making networks more dynamic and sustainable.
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