Lisbon Metro to have largest fibre optic test centre in the world

The Lisbon University Institute (ISCTE) is to install the largest fibre optic test bank in the world on Lisbon Metro’s Yellow Line in a project worth around €2.3 million.

The public transport system network that will soon be headed by parliamentary deputy and management executive Cristina Vaz Tomé, is rolling the project out now according to Vice-Rector Jorge Costa.

“Despite ISCTE not being recognised internationally, in areas of engineering, “we have a very active team of fellows in the area of fibre optics”, says Jorge Costa, adding that this project is being developed after the institute won a European doctorate in the field of optical communications, “in particular in this latest generation of fibre optics technology.”

This is a doctorate led by ISCTE in partnership with four other universities and several companies working in the area, with the institute carrying out tests on multi-nucleus fire optics on the ground.

The current or previous generation of fibers are becoming saturated in communication capacity and this new generation allows the old fibers to be exchanged for new ones, he explained. However, the fibers to be marketed need standardization, that is, it is necessary for world agencies to define the characteristics.

The Lisbon Metro is currently extending the Yellow Line to connect with the Green Line at Cais do Sodré, creating a circular line with new Santos and Estrela stations. Additionally, the Red Line is being extended from São Sebastião to Alcântara, adding new stations to serve the west of the city. There is also a future expansion of the Violet Line to Loures.

A source close to the current development projects involving Lisbon’s metro told Essential Business last week that there are plans to introduce driverless trains at some time in the future which would put pay to years of industrial action over working conditions and pay among the public company’s metro operators.