Lightera and Immer Messen Join Forces for Intelligent Monitoring of Power Transmission Lines Using Optical Fiber

Lightera, a company that brings together the global optical fiber operations of the Furukawa Electric Co. Group, and Immer Messen, a Brazilian startup specialized in advanced distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) solutions, have entered into a strategic partnership to explore opportunities in sensing projects, with a focus on the power transmission sector. The collaboration combines Immer Messen’s Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology with Lightera’s expertise in specialty optical fibers and systems integration.

The proposed architecture transforms optical fiber installed along transmission lines into a continuous sensor capable of detecting acoustic variations and vibrations over dozens of kilometers. The information is analyzed in real time, enabling the automatic generation of alerts.
The goal is to deliver a comprehensive transmission line monitoring solution, enhancing safety and operational efficiency for power utilities.

“There is a clear demand to detect, predict, and locate events that affect network availability and reliability. Examples include structural failures, fires, theft, vandalism, and windstorms. These factors increase operational costs, especially when inspections are required in remote locations and when identifying the root cause of issues. They can also lead to regulatory penalties and loss of revenue associated with transmission lines,” explains Sergio Scarpin, Director at Lightera.
Within this context, Lightera brings together capabilities such as specialty optical fiber development in the United States, fiber sensing research in Japan, and systems integration in Brazil through EyON, a platform that combines IoT, sensors, and monitoring software. The company also offers a well-established portfolio for the power sector, including solutions such as OPGW (Optical Ground Wire) and OPDC (Optical Distribution Cable).

Immer Messen contributes expertise in advanced signal acquisition and processing, as well as the development of artificial intelligence algorithms capable of classifying and geolocating events in real time with a high degree of customization.

Field Validation and Expansion to Critical Infrastructure

The companies recently completed tests using DAS technology for power transmission line monitoring. The trials were conducted in January 2026 on a 500 kV transmission line owned by one of the largest power companies in Brazil.

“The results were highly promising, demonstrating the capability of the interrogator developed in Brazil to capture signals over distances exceeding 80 kilometers, with high robustness and data quality,” says Guilherme Weber, CEO of Immer Messen. According to him, the field validation paves the way for the development of alert systems aimed at mitigating events that may interrupt transmission services, such as fires, vandalism, the presence of wild animals on structures, electrical discharges, among others.

Preliminary results also indicated that the DataSens specialty optical fiber can further expand event detection capabilities—either by highlighting low-intensity events at critical points in the infrastructure or by extending the monitored distance beyond 100 kilometers using the same interrogator, adds Sergio Scarpin.

The partnership between Lightera and Immer Messen represents an important step forward in the use of fiber optic monitoring for strategic assets in Brazil. The initiative also opens the door to applications in other types of critical infrastructure. By combining specialty optical fiber, locally developed hardware, dedicated algorithms, and system-level integration, the companies aim to position DFOS as a strategic tool for risk management, operational cost reduction, and increased availability of transmission assets.