indie Photonics Canada Inc. is developing lasers for distributed sensing that can help protect against national disasters and cyber threats using existing submarine fibre optic cables. These cables offer a unique opportunity to deploy compact, low-noise semiconductor lasers for distributed, cost-effective sensing applications, including environmental monitoring, seismic activity detection, and predictive maintenance for telecommunications infrastructure. Secondary applications include sensing in terrestrial telecom networks and quantum key distribution (QKD), which can help secure data against future quantum computer threats. Existing submarine fibre optic cables represent a vast, untapped infrastructure that can complement, and in some cases replace, traditional ocean monitoring approaches based on non‑fibre‑optic technologies.

Currently, bulky and costly fibre lasers limit scalability and make large-scale deployments impractical. Quebec City-based indie Photonics is leveraging its commercially proven LXM-U platform, a narrow-linewidth distributed feedback (DFB) laser module, to deliver smaller, more affordable systems. This project will further reduce the noise of the LXM-U to levels below those of fibre lasers, expand the laser platform to wavelengths outside the congested C-band (S- and L-band), and integrate telecom-standard packaging and electronics. These exceptionally low-frequency noise lasers enhance detection range and sensitivity, which are critical for ocean-sensing applications. Operating at S- and L-band wavelengths is essential to avoid interference with high-throughput data channels, enabling real-world deployment.

Lead customers will validate laser performance for sensing in submarine and terrestrial fibre networks. It will provide application feedback, participate in field trials, and support integration into telecom systems to ensure indie Photonics’ technology meets industry standards for ocean sensing and quantum communications.

indie Photonics’ collaborators include the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC) for fabrication, C2MI and Sanmina for advanced packaging and assembly, and M2S Électronique for electronics expertise.

By leveraging Canada’s photonics and semiconductor expertise, the project will deliver compact, high-performance laser modules that enable distributed sensing over existing submarine fibre optic cables — transforming these networks into powerful platforms for environmental and infrastructure monitoring.

The proposed work builds on a proven commercial product (LXM-U) and introduces incremental innovations, including expanded wavelength coverage and improved noise performance. It also provides a forward-looking technology path toward even more miniaturized form factors compatible with the telecommunications industry.