Russia Learns to Use Fiber-Optic Cables as Sensors
Russian telecom operators are testing fiber‑optic sensing technology that turns existing communication lines into multi‑kilometer environmental sensors for smart buildings and smart‑city infrastructure
Beyond Traditional Connectivity
Russian telecom operators continue expanding beyond classical communication services, exploring technologies that generate new revenue streams and increase resilience amid shifting market conditions. One of the latest initiatives comes from MTS, which has begun pilot deployments of fiber‑optic sensing — an R&D direction that turns optical cables into distributed environmental sensors.
In practice, fiber lines can now serve dual purposes: data transmission and continuous monitoring of external conditions. The technology has broad applications in smart‑office and smart‑city systems, including climate control, fire safety, security monitoring, pipeline‑leak detection, traffic analytics, and structural‑health monitoring of buildings, machinery and infrastructure.
Early tests show that fiber‑optic sensing can reduce installation costs by roughly one‑third compared with traditional point‑sensor deployments.
How the Technology Works
The system relies on the analysis of light pulses inside optical fiber. A compact device — a coherent reflectometer — sends modulated light signals through the fiber and measures their scattering patterns. External influences such as sound, vibration or temperature alter the characteristics of the light stream.
Signal‑processing algorithms and AI models analyze these changes, effectively turning a multi‑kilometer fiber line into a continuous distributed sensor. Reflectogram analysis allows operators to obtain data from any point along the cable.
Flexible Configuration for Any Task
The solution offers several advantages: a low‑cost fiber‑optic cable replaces dozens of individual sensors that require power; it is compact, easy to install, immune to electromagnetic interference and capable of withstanding high temperatures. Hardware — the fiber cable and reflectometer — remains universal, while functionality is defined by software settings, making the technology adaptable for diverse operational scenarios.
Adopting Global Best Practices
“Among Russian telecom operators, we were the first to explore research and pilots in this promising direction, and the first in the country to deploy projects for temperature monitoring in buildings. We were helped by the extensive expertise of MGTS — Moscow’s largest infrastructure operator — in building and operating optical networks,” said Evgeny Lukyanchuk, Director of Innovation and Development at MGTS, an MTS subsidiary.
Using fiber networks as sensors is a relatively new method. In 2021, researchers at Cornell University proposed a time‑shift deviation (TSDEV) technique for tracking vibrations on urban fiber networks. Similar international work aligns closely with what MTS is currently testing.
Chinese researchers recently published new findings describing fiber‑sensor designs capable of simultaneously detecting pressure, vibration, deformation and other parameters — demonstrating the technology’s potential in industrial and municipal infrastructure.
MTS is effectively bringing these cutting‑edge developments to Russia, keeping pace with global trends. If the operator can not only refine the method but also develop the necessary software and provide equipment maintenance, the company could introduce a new domestic product line for the smart‑infrastructure market — shielded from external sanctions and supply‑chain risks.
Given the long‑term demand for urban‑infrastructure monitoring technologies, fiber‑optic sensing is positioned to see wide adoption across the country.
