The main objective is
• to develop methods to ascertain and improve the reliability of the new types of optical components and devices in communications networks and systems.
• Aspects regarding network and component costs, environmental conditions and installation procedures for equipment in transport, metro, subscriber access networks and in in-house (local area) networks are included.
• The final objective is also the appropriate transfer of results and experience to help the standardization bodies, e.g. ETSI TM1, CECC 86BXA, IEC 86B, and ITU-T etc.

Most of the effort will be used
- to improve the understanding of the failure mechanisms of new types of optical components and devices
• to gather information on their field behavior,
• to study the effect of service environment,
• to improve life test methods, tests in series
• lifetime estimation methods will be analyzed and developed.
This research work will be done in co-operation with component and system manufactures and research institutes and universities. The action will also use the results and achievements of earlier reliability actions (COST 246, 218 etc.). - Thus, suppliers will be helped in developing and manufacturing reliable components and devices.

Action start date : 7 December 2000

Action end date : 6 June 2006

Twelve European countries have signed the MoU (Memory of Understanding). Experts from over 30 companies, universities and research institutes are currently actively working for the action. Some more companies and institutes are still expected to join.

The chairman of the Management Committee (MC) is
Dr. Hans G. Limberger, IOA-EPFL
Switzerland
(hans.limberger@epfl.ch).

Vice chairman is
Mr. Aleksandar Opacic, Huber-Suhner
Switzerland
(aopacic@hubersuhner.com)

Secretary is
Dr. Francis Berghmans, SCK-CEN
Belgium
(fberghma@sckcen.be)

Two Working Groups, WG1 for networks and systems and WG2 for components, have been established. See below.

Working methods contain collaboration experiments, life-tests and theoretical studies, short-term scientific missions within the participating companies/labs, workshops, deep discussions at working and study group meetings etc.

The results will be published and distributed by workshops, conference presentations, publications and The Final Report.

WG1, titled Reliability of Optical Networks and Systems Including Free Space Communication.

Chairperspon: Prof. Lena Wosinska, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden (lena@it.kth.se).

WG1 has started
- developing models to estimate survivability of optical networks in cooperation with COST266
- cost studies for different survivability strategies
- network optimization from reliability and cost point of view
- defining the weak points in the network regarding components and systems (input for WG2)
- collecting reliability data for components from suppliers and WG2

WG2, titled Reliability of passive components, jumper cables, fiber coatings etc. incl. effects of high optical power application.

Chairperson: Dr. Francis Berghmans, SCK-CEN, Belgium (fberghma@sckcen.be)

WG2 has started studies on:
- SG1: Reliability of connectors and patchcords
- SG2: Reliability of fibers
- SG3: Reliability of Bragg grating components
- High optical power effects on relevant components and devices
- standards and their open questions
- field data of components
- life time estimation methods
- weak spots (failure mechanisms)
- reliability test methods, relevant test series
- service environments