OSA, Google Collaborate for Subsea Optical Fiber Communications School

The OSA Foundation (OSAF) and Google have partnered to bring graduate students, engineers, and budding scientists to an international summer school that will focus on subsea optical fiber communications.

The program, created by the OSAF and Google, will be held in Huhmari, Finland, Aug. 4-10, and will take participants through a comprehensive process to build a modern global communication network with a focus on submarine system design, submarine powering, cable technology, planning, marine operations, and maintenance.

Valey Kamalov, network engineer at Google and chair of the school program committee, said the program is ideal for those looking for a new field of opportunity in technology.

“We want to encourage the best and brightest scientists and engineers to consider subsea communications as a profession,” he said.

During the summer school program, speakers from Google, Facebook, Subcom, Alcatel Submarine Networks, NEC, and more will work with attendees to help them understand and prepare to work on solutions for the challenges ahead. Ninety-nine percent of all international data traffic travels through the 745,645 miles of subsea optical fiber in use in subsea cables today. That data traffic is set to double over the next three years.

Applications for the inaugural summer school program are due March 30, 2019. Invitations for those selected to attend will be sent in late April. Among other application materials, candidates will be asked to submit two statements of 250 words each describing why they would like to attend the school and how their current work relates to subsea optical fiber communications.

A $500 registration fee will be charged upon acceptance to the school. Registration includes all meals and accommodations. Travel expenses to Finland are not included. Travel and registration grants will be available based on need and school resources. Those who are accepted should check with their home country on visa requirements, if any. Conference organizers can provide visa letters upon request.

The Subsea Optical Fiber Communications International Summer School is supported by SubOptic, the global trade association for the submarine cable community, and sponsored by Ciena, Nokia, and other industry leaders.