• Technical Conference:  30 March – 03 April 2025
  • Exhibition: 01 – 03 April 2025
  • Moscone Center, San Francisco, California, USA

Demo Zone


The Demo Zone features live demonstrations of research projects and proof-of-concept implementations related to novel, non-commercial, optical communication devices, systems, and networks.

Demonstrations occur in a dedicated booth in the demo zone equipped with a table, a monitor, and a bulletin board. They are shown to small groups, favoring an interactive format with real-time exchanges between attendees and demo presenters. Demonstrations are typically executed on request and may incorporate a mix of on-site and remote equipment. These could additionally involve recorded videos or live connections to remote hardware or experiments.

As a guideline, the maturity of the demonstrated feature should be at a technology readiness level (TRL) of 6 or lower. Please refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_readiness_level for more information on TRL.

Topic Categories

The 2025 OFC Demo Zone showcases various aspects of optical physical layer transmission, hardware, and network orchestration/intelligence. These aspects include, but are not restricted to:

  • Automated device alignment or characterization setups
  • Automated measurement setups for high-capacity transmission experiments including the use of novel optical fibers;
  • Systems, sub-systems, and devices for free-space, microwave, or optical fiber transmission and switching;
  • Digital processing sub-systems and sensing;
  • Optical access networks including their convergence with metro transport, wireless access networks, mobile edge computing;
  • Novel networking elements and concepts, including those supporting time-deterministic and low-latency applications;
  • Network virtualization, slicing, software-defined control of networks;
  • Programmable networks, including softwarised network functions and programmable hardware;
  • Autonomous network management, control and orchestration;
  • Application of AI and ML to optical networks, systems, and systems;
  • Quantum networking, including demonstration of entanglement distribution, implementing advanced QKD applications and quantum protocols;

The chance to showcase technical accomplishments in depth through live demonstrations provides a great opportunity for engaging in discussions with participants.

Submission Deadline: 14 November 2024, 12:00 Noon Eastern Time (UTC-05:00)