Polymer photonic technologies for optical communications

The impact of photonics in telecommunications is indisputably massive; however it relies on efficient cost reduction which is in turn only possible if significant cost savings are made at all steps in the development of the photonic device from the material to packaging. The PHOTOPOLIS consortium has identified polymer technology as the ideal solution for producing low-cost devices. The paper aims to discuss the status of polymer photonic components and subsystems able to generate, transmit and manage optical information in a cost effective manner.