Building Europe's technological sovereignty through advanced photonics manufacturing
ESTEL is proud to announce the launch of the DATAWALL research and development project, a strategic initiative co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/FEDER) and the Walloon Region through the COOTECH Programme 2021–2027. The project has received public funding of up to €5.20 million to accelerate the development of Europe's first fully automated production line dedicated to high-speed optical transceivers.
Strengthening Europe's digital infrastructure
Optical transceivers are essential components enabling ultra-high-speed data transmission in:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure
- Hyperscale data centres
- High Performance Computing (HPC)
- 5G and future 6G networks
- Satellite communications
- Critical digital infrastructure
Today, Europe remains highly dependent on non-European manufacturers for these strategic technologies. DATAWALL aims to help reverse this situation by creating advanced manufacturing capabilities directly in Wallonia.
An ambitious R&D programme
The project focuses on developing a new generation of automated manufacturing technologies capable of producing both current 100G and future 800G optical transceivers.
Key research areas include:
- Automated optical calibration and testing
- Advanced photonic assembly processes
- AI-based laser soldering quality inspection
- Automated traceability systems
- Thermal testing from -40°C to +80°C
- Industrial robotics for production automation
- Next-generation Automated Test Stations (ATS)
The ultimate objective is to deliver a fully operational prototype production line capable of increasing manufacturing capacity by a factor of ten while improving quality, repeatability and industrial scalability.
Supporting european technological sovereignty
Beyond manufacturing innovation, DATAWALL contributes directly to Europe's ambition to strengthen its technological sovereignty in critical digital infrastructure.
The project aligns with the European objectives of:
- strengthening resilient semiconductor and photonics value chains;
- increasing European industrial competitiveness;
- securing critical communication infrastructure;
- supporting AI and HPC deployment;
- creating highly skilled industrial employment in Wallonia.
A collaborative innovation project
DATAWALL is carried out through a collaboration between:
- E-S-TEL SRL (Project Leader)
- Industrie & Développement (I.D.) SA
- Sirris (subcontractor)
Together, the partners are developing a new generation of industrial processes designed to support future European manufacturing of advanced optical communication technologies.
This project is co-funded by the European Union and the Walloon Region
DATAWALL – Research and Development of Europe's first optical transceiver production line is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/FEDER) and the Walloon Region under the FEDER Wallonia 2021–2027 Programme (COOTECH).
