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

Topic Categories

Topic Categories

Paper Submission General Guidelines:

To determine which track (D, S or N) to submit a paper to, please carefully review the descriptions below and keep in mind the focus of each track:

  • D-track evaluates papers studying the design, fabrication and characterization of devices, components and fibers. Devices and PICs that have been evaluated in a system should be submitted in S-track in the appropriate SC.
  • S-track evaluates papers at the subsystem and system level at the areas outlined in the SC descriptions.
  • N-track focuses on the networking and service aspects of networks and systems at the areas outlined in the SC descriptions.
  • Papers related to devices, systems and networks for quantum communications should be submitted in the SC-Q.

Papers will be reviewed by the experts within the chosen subcommittee (SC) unless they get recategorized by the program chairs:

  • If you are unsure which SC to choose, please select the one that seems the closest.
  • The program chairs will review all submissions for correct SC categorization and make changes, if required.
  • Commercially sensitive aspects can be omitted from submitted papers. However, the remaining content must have enough technical substance to meet OFC standards.

Demonstration General Guidelines:

To determine whether to submit your demonstration proposal for either the Demo Zone or OFCnet, please review below:

  • Demo Zone - focuses on research and early stage prototypes, does not require dedicated fiber connectivity and demonstrates achievements at technology readiness (TRL) of 6 or lower.
  • OFCnet - focuses on innovations that can be implemented in operational networks, requires real-time network connectivity, requires significant amount of equipment and showcases implementations of emerging network technologies at technology readiness level (TRL) of 6 or higher.

Subcommittee Q (SC-Q): Quantum Devices, Systems and Networking

Subcommittee SCQ track focuses on photonic-based quantum systems, with particular focus on quantum communication, including the optical devices, systems, and protocols to enable quantum communication, quantum information generation, distribution, and processing.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Quantum Communication Systems and Quantum Key Distribution
  • Entanglement Routing and Quantum Networking
  • Multipartite Entangled States for Quantum Networking and Quantum Computing
  • Quantum Computing and Quantum Computing Interconnects
  • Photonic Integrated Circuit Implementations of Quantum Subsystems, Systems, Networks
  • Quantum Random Number Generators
  • Quantum Single or Entangled-Photon Sources, Detectors
  • Photonic Devices in Support of Qubit Modalities (ions, defects in solids, single atoms, others)
  • Optics for Quantum Transduction, Cryogenic Optical Interconnects
  • Quantum Memories, Photonic Quantum Gates, and Quantum Repeaters
  • Hybrid Quantum and ClassicalSystems/Networks and Teleportation
  • Lab Demonstrations, Field Trials, Use Cases, Certification and Standardization
  • Quantum Protocol Implementations
  • Free Space and Satellite-Based Quantum Communications

 

D-Track: Devices, Components and Fibers

D1: Advanced Prototyping, Packaging and Integration
D2: Passive Components
D3: Active Components
D4: Fibers and Propagation Physics
D5: Fiber Devices, Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers, and Nonlinear Waveguides

D1: Advanced Prototyping, Packaging and Integration

This subcommittee focuses on advanced prototyping, including transceiver modules, driver/receiver circuits, fibers, connectors, and other enabling hardware, and advanced packaging and integration strategies for optical communication, computing, and LiDAR systems.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Commercial or Engineering Samples (Optoelectronic or Passive Optical Chips and Modules, TOSA/ROSA, Amplifiers, other)
  • Deployment Trends of New Fibers and Connectors
  • High-Capacity TX/RX Modules, Multi-Mode, Single-Mode, WDM, Parallel-Channel, VCSELs
  • Electronic Driver and Receiver Circuits for Energy-Efficient Transmitters and Receivers
  • Photonic Network Elements and Enabling Hardware (Wavelength-Selective Switches, ROADMs, Other) and Performance Monitoring
  • Advanced Co-Packaging Technology and On-Board Optics
  • Large-Scale Foundry PDK Development
  • Large-Scale Electro-Optic Integration and Packaging
  • Components, Devices, Modules, Integrated Circuits for Data Centers, Telecom, and LIDAR Applications

D2: Passive Components

This subcommittee focuses on passive optical component technologies based on integrated and/or bulk optics. Passive components as defined here include optical switches (e.g. thermo-optic, MEMS, liquid crystal), but not devices involving active semiconductor (carrier plasma, gain), electro-optic (Pockels) or other nonlinear (e.g. Kerr) effects.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Waveguide Design, Mode Converters, and Mode Engineering
  • Fiber and Free-Space to Chip Coupling, Enabling Advanced Packaging
  • Filtering and Compensating Devices (Bandpass Filters, Add-Drop Filters, Dispersion Compensation, WDM, WSS, OFDM, PDM, SDM), All-Optical Equalization for Fiber-Optic Systems
  • Wavelength-, Polarization-, and Spatial Mode-Division Filters, Multiplexers, Demultiplexers, Equalizers, Interleavers, Switches, Splitters, Add/Drops, Cross-Connects, Converters
  • Planar Lightwave Circuits, Laser-Written Waveguides and Optical Circuits in Glass or Polymers
  • Passive Component Fabrication Processes and Platforms (e.g. Si, Silica, SiN, BTO, AlN, LNOI, Chalcogenides, SiC, III-V-on-Insulator, Thin-Film on Insulator (“XOI”), Waveguide-Integrated Liquid Crystal…)
  • Low-Loss and Ultra-Low-Loss Waveguide and Photonic Integrated Circuit Components and Platforms
  • Integrated Photonics Platforms in new wavelength ranges (UV through visible to Mid-IR)
  • Ring Resonator, Grating, Photonic Crystal, and Other Nanophotonic/Integrated Photonic Devices and Building Blocks
  • Free-Space Passive Devices (Wavelength Selective Switches, Cross Connects, Other)
  • MEMS and Integrated MEMS/NEMS Photonic Devices and Switches
  • Meta-Optics (Metasurfaces, Metalenses, Metamaterials) for Optical Communication
  • Compound/Complex Linear Passive Devices and Circuits (Mach-Zehnder Meshes, etc)
  • Conventional and ML-Optimized Design, Fabrication and Evaluation of Passive Components
  • Non-Reciprocal Devices including Optical Isolators and Circulators
  • Passive Plasmonic Waveguides, Devices, and Switches
  • Topological Photonic Components and Circuits

D3: Active Components

This subcommittee focuses on active devices and advanced gain materials to support higher bandwidth networking trends, methods of integration including hybrid, heterogeneous and monolithic platforms, and reliability aspects of these devices.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Lasers and Amplifiers using Semiconductor Gain Material (Excluding Rare-Earth Doped or Nonlinear)
  • Modulators (incl. Plasmonic, LiNbO3, BTO, Polymer) for IM-DD and Coherent Schemes
  • Detectors (incl. Plasmonic) and Receivers
  • Active Wavelength Converters and Comb-Sources
  • Nonlinear Carrier Dynamics in Semiconductors (SOA-Based/Resonant Nonlinearity, Other)
  • Active Semiconductor-Based Switches
  • Small Scale Optoelectronic Hybrid and Monolithic Integration, Including Active Components Heterogeneous Integration
  • Optoelectronic Device and Wafer-Level Testing
  • Optoelectronic Devices Based on Graphene or Other 2D Metamaterials
  • Reliability in Active Components

D4: Fibers and Propagation Physics

Fibers and propagation physics are at the heart of optical communications. D4 focuses on new optical fibers and propagation effects as well as on better understanding the characteristics and the use of optical fibers in optical communications.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Optical Fiber and Fiber Cables Design, Fabrication, Reliability and Testing
  • Hollow-Core, Micro-Structured, Multi-Core, and Multi-Mode Optical Fibers
  • Optical Fibers for New Wavelength Ranges
  • Optical Fibers for Sensing in Optical Networks
  • Nonlinear Effects, Scattering, and Propagation-Related Transmission Impairments
  • Propagation, Dispersion, and Polarization Properties in Fibers and Free-Space
  • Novel Optical Fiber Materials, incl. Non-Silica and Multi-Material Fibers
  • Non-Transmission Use of Specialty Optical Fibers
  • Fiber Characterization and Measurement Techniques
  • Field Studies, Installation, Metrology, Connectors, Enclosures and Splicing

D5: Fiber Devices, Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers, and Nonlinear Waveguides 

Fiber-based devices are essential elements in all communication networks and a growing range of specialty applications. This subcommittee focuses on innovations and advancements in passive and active, linear and nonlinear fiber devices across all application spaces.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Doped Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers (CW and Pulsed)
  • Fiber Amplifiers, Lasers, and Devices Based on Nonlinear Wave-Mixing or Scattering Phenomena (including Supercontinuum / Comb-Sources)
  • Devices Based on Hollow-Core, Micro-Structured, Multi-Core, Multi-Mode and Specialty Optical Fibers
  • Fiber Gratings, Multiplexers, and Couplers
  • Optical Fiber Sensors for Optical Networks, Bio-photonics, Astro-photonics, Imaging, Avionics, and Automotive.
  • Non-Telecom Fiber-Based Devices.

S-Track: Subsystems and Systems

S-Track Guidelines:

  • Papers exclusively focusing on datacenter applications (with a system metric in a datacenter context like cost per bit, power consumption) should go to S1.
  • Papers featuring transceiver innovations or with back-to-back demonstrations should go to S2.
  • Papers focusing on multi-span transmissions (whose performance is dominated by impairments from fiber and optical amplifiers), high-capacity (WDM/SDM) fiber transmission demonstrations, and compensation of fiber propagation effects should go to S3.
  • Papers exclusively focusing on Free-space (FSO), Ranging (LiDAR) and Radio-over-fiber (RoF) demonstrations should go to S5.

S1: Datacom Subsystems and Systems
S2: Subsystems for Transmission
S3: Transmission Systems
S4: Optical Processing, Microwave Photonics and Fiber-Sensing
S5: Free-Space (FSO), Ranging (LIDAR), and Radio-Over-Fiber (RoF)

S1: Datacom Subsystems and Systems 

Subcommittee S1 focuses on optical interconnect subsystems and systems for intra/inter-datacenter and high-performance computing (HPC). We place particular emphasis on full-link energy efficiency (energy/bit), low link cost (cost/data rate), and link latency.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Modulation, Detection, Estimation (IM/DD, Coherent, other)
  • Signal Processing (Analog, Digital, Hybrid) and Forward Error Correction (FEC)
  • VCSEL, DML, EML and other CWL/Mod. Transceivers
  • Wavelength, Space, and Time Division Multiplexing (WDM, SDM, TDM)
  • Optical Switching
  • Si PIC, InP PIC, GaAs VCSEL Array, other Integration Approaches
  • Datacenter Resource Disaggregation
  • Co-Packaged Subsystems
  • Standards-Driven Innovations and Technologies
  • Optics for AI/Machine Learning Clusters
  • Lab and Field Demonstrations

S2: Subsystems for Transmission

Transmission subsystems are critical segments of a system, where the application of innovative techniques can significantly enhance overall system performance. Subcommittee S2 focuses on digital and electronic subsystems for optical transmissions. It covers subsystem aspects of modulation, multiplexing, coding, DSP and novel transceiver configurations.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Modulation and Demodulation Subsystems
  • Multiplexing and Demultiplexing Subsystems
  • Forward Error Correction and Coded Modulation
  • Subsystems Designs for Coherent/Direct Detection and Space-Division Multiplexing Systems
  • Electronic Digital-to-Analog and Analog-to-Digital Converters
  • Electro-Optical Subsystem Integration
  • Real-Time Implementation in FPGAs and ASICs
  • Machine Learning for Subsystem Modeling, Impairment Mitigation and Performance Monitoring
  • Digital and Opto-Electronic Signal Processing for System Impairment Mitigations
  • System-Level Demonstrations Featuring Novel Transceiver Subsystems
  • System Characterization based on Digital Techniques

S3: Transmission Systems

This subcommittee targets experimental demonstrations, numerical simulations and theoretical study of optical data transmission over a fiber channel of non-negligible distance. The target is to increase data throughput, increase transmission distance, and improve end-to-end performance through systems level innovations.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Metro, Long-haul and Submarine Transmission
  • Modulation, Detection, Estimation (IM/DD, Coherent, other)
  • Wavelength, Space and Time Division Multiplexing (WDM, SDM, TDM) Transmission
  • Transmission Demonstrations using New Amplifiers (including Multiband Transmission)
  • Signal Processing (Analog, Digital, Hybrid) and Forward Error Correction (FEC)
  • Applications of Machine Learning in System Design, Provisioning and Monitoring
  • Linear and Nonlinear Impairments Mitigation
  • Nonlinear Transmission Techniques (including NFT and Soliton transmission)
  • Modeling, Analysis, Design, and Implementation of Transmission Systems
  • Capacity Limits
  • Optical Performance Monitoring and Optical Fiber Tomography
  • Lab and Field Demonstrations
  • Non-Quantum Secure Communications

S4: Optical Processing, Microwave Photonics and Fiber-Sensing

Subcommittee S4 focusses on microwave photonic (MWP) subsystems and systems, signal processing techniques, non-telecom MWP applications and optical fiber sensing methods and techniques. Note that telecom related MWP technologies such as radio-over-fiber and THz communications should go to S5. Applications of fiber sensing to network control/management should go to N1.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Nonlinear Effects (Kerr, Raman, Brillouin, Other)
  • Optical Computing, Configurable Photonics and Optical Accelerators for AI Processing
  • Microwave, mm-Wave and Terahertz Photonics
  • Stable Laser Systems and Time/Frequency Transfer Over Optical Fibers
  • Fiber Sensing Methods, Interrogators and Systems
  • Signal Processing (Analog Optical/Electrical and Digital) for Fiber Sensing
  • In-Lab Demonstrations and Field-Trials Focusing on Sensing Systems (Sensing Field Trials Focusing on Larger Network Deployments and/or Applications to Optical Network Control Should Go to N1)

S5: Free-space (FSO), Ranging (LiDAR), and Radio-over-Fiber (RoF)

Subcommittee S5 focuses on photonic technologies that can realize a cost-effective platform for future ubiquitous wireless services including free-space (FSO), ranging (LiDAR) and radio-over-fiber (RoF). Note that specific demonstrations about devices, components and fibers are covered by Track D.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) Technologies and Applications
  • Multi-Technology Converged Transmission
  • Microwave, Millimeter-Wave, and THz Optical Fronthaul Systems
  • PIC, Monolithic and Heterogenous Photonics Integration for FSO and RoF Applications
  • Beamforming (Analog, Digital, Hybrid)
  • Optical Wireless Communication (OWC), Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC)
  • Intelligent Surfaces for Optical Wireless and THz Communication
  • Visible Light Communication (VLC), Light Fidelity (LiFi), Optical Camera Communication (OCC)
  • Satellite Laser Communication
  • VCSELs and LiDAR Modules and Systems
  • Lab and Field Demonstrations for Sensing, Ranging, Positioning, and Navigation Applications
  • Machine Learning applied to FSO, LiDAR or RoF

N-Track: Networks and Services

N-Track Guidelines:

  • Papers focusing on network trends and applications from terrestrial to subsea to non-terrestrial (e.g. space, underwater), as well as enterprise and storage area networks should go to N1.
  • Papers focusing on advanced photonic technologies in computing systems and devices/PICs evaluated in Datacom and Telecom applications should go to N2.
  • Papers focusing on control and management of core and metro optical networks, as well as inter-data center architectures and networking should go to N3.
  • Papers focusing on advance of optical access networks in architectures, system technologies and protocols should go to N4.

N1: Advances in the Development of Networks, Systems and Services
N2: Optical Networking for Data Center and Computing Applications
N3: Architectures and Software-Defined Control for Metro and Core Optical Networks
N4: Optical Access Networks for Fixed and Mobile Services
N5: Market Watch, Network Operator Summit & Data Center Summit (Invited Program Only)

N1: Advances in the Development of Networks, Systems and Services

This subcommittee focuses on near- to mid-term network trends and applications addressing both service and content provider needs. It seeks original contributions on deployable network solutions ranging from terrestrial to subsea to non-terrestrial (e.g. space, underwater), as well as enterprise and storage area networks.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Near- to Mid-Term Network Trends and Applications, and Deployable Network Solutions
  • Field Trials, Demonstrations and Pilots in Optical Networks (incl. Non-Traditional Wavebands)
  • Network Engineering and Deployment, incl. Quality of Service, Performance Evaluation and Installation Techniques
  • Operational Aspects of Open and Disaggregated Networks, including Multi-Vendor Interoperability Tests
  • Operational Aspects of Emerging Networks Applications, incl. SDN, NFV, Network Management, Monitoring, and Analytics (AIOps)
  • Demonstrations of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Optical Networks
  • Sensing Applied to Optical Networks, incl. Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and OTDR for Network Optimization and Monitoring (incl. Field Trials)
  • Applications of Coherent Transceivers for Sensing, Telemetry and Machine Learning (incl. Field Trials)
  • Fixed and Mobile Converged Networks, incl. 5G/6G and Multi-Access Edge Computing
  • Networks to Support High-Bandwidth Video and Low-Latency Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR) Services
  • Applications of Network Timing and Clock Distribution Services over Optical Networks
  • Non-Terrestrial and Space-Based Optical Networks

N2: Optical Networking for Data Center and Computing Applications  

This subcommittee seeks original contributions centered around advanced photonic technologies in computing systems, as well as validated and novel devices, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), and chiplets evaluated in Datacom and computing applications.

The focus of original contributions includes inviting novel studies related to photonic interconnects, transceivers, switching, and networks in data centers, as well as photonic-based network architectures for AI-driven computing applications. The subcommittee will also evaluate novel contributions related to programmable photonics, optical computing, and next-generation photonic architectures. Additionally, it will examine papers on disaggregation across various scales, including SoC and system levels, and review reported advancements in photonic-enabling systems and optical technologies for accelerated computing.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Demonstration of Novel Programmable Photonics, Optical Computing, and Photonic Architectures for Advanced Computing, in Particular Focusing on Validated PICs/Chiplets for AI-driven Computing Applications
  • Packaged and/or Prototyped Photonics for Interconnects, Transceivers, Switching, Processing and Storage in Data Centers and AI Compute Networks
  • Photonics that Enable Resource Disaggregation at the System-on-Chip (SoC) Level, Board Level, Rack Scale, and System Level
  • On-Chip, On-Board, and Board-to-Board Optical Technologies and Architectures for Accelerated Computing

N3: Architectures and Software-Defined Control for Metro and Core Optical Networks

This subcommittee seeks original research contributions on the evolution of core and metro optical networks, as well as inter-data center architectures and networking. It covers control and management as well as data-plane architectures, including optical network experiments, simulation, emulation, analytical and numerical analyses, and design methodologies. Papers on edge/fog-computing for access networks should be submitted to N2, papers on machine-learning techniques for transmission should be submitted to S5.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Core, Metro, Inter-DC Architectures and Networks, for Emerging Services incl. 5G/B5G/6G and Cloud Computing
  • SDN and NFV in Optical and Multi-Layer Networks
  • Open/Disaggregated Optical Core and Metro Networks
  • Metro and Core Networks for Fixed and Wireless Convergence, including Optical X-Haul Networks
  • Elastic Optical and Flexible Grid Networks
  • Scalable Control and Management of Pluggables and IP Over WDM
  • Space Division Multiplexed and Optical Multi-Band Fiber Networks
  • Architectures and Control of Non-Terrestrial Optical Networks, including Satellite, Drone, and High-Flying Platform Networks
  • Architectures for Optical Space-Terrestrial Integration Networks
  • Optical Inter-Satellite Links and Their Integration to 6G Networks
  • Optical Node Architectures for High-Degree Connectivity with Multi-Fiber/Core/Band Networks
  • AI/ML, Data Analytics, and Digital Twins for Optical Network Design, Control, and Management, including Foundation Models
  • Optical Network Design including Planning, Optimization, and Techno-Economic Studies
  • Operational Aspects incl. Energy-Efficiency, Security and Service Assurance
  • Reliability, Service Restoration, and Protection
  • Dynamic Optical Networking and Service Orchestration
  • Computing and Network Resource Allocation for Optical Networks
  • Open and Intent-based APIs and Network Functions for Core and Metro Networks
  • New Information and Data Models, Description Languages and Management Protocols (e.g. NETCONF/RESTCONF and YANG) for Metro and Core Optical Networks

N4: Optical Access Networks for Fixed and Mobile Services  

This subcommittee focus on innovations in architectures, system technologies and protocols for providing services to residential and business customers as well as for supporting applications in mobile backhaul/fronthaul and in IoT/sensor networks. Operational and business aspects are also areas that contributions are solicited for, such as improved robustness of network operations, PON virtualization, SDN for orchestrating PON, techno-economic studies, low power consumption, etc.

Particular topics of interest include:

  • High-Speed Optical Access System Technologies (Coherent, Signal Multiplexing, Modulation Formats, DSP, FEC, ML, etc.)
  • Network Architectures, Applications, and Services to Residential and Business Customers
  • Optical X-Haul Architectures Supporting Mobile and IoT/Sensor Networks
  • Access Architectures and Technology for Heterogeneous Signal Transmission Over Fiber in Support of Future Mobile Networks
  • Operation Aspects of all PON Variants incl. TDM-PON, TWDM-PON, and WDM-PON
  • Reliability, Protection and Security
  • PON Virtualization, incl. SDN and NFV
  • Low-Latency Solutions for Time Sensitive Fronthaul and User Plane Services
  • Application of ML/AI Techniques to Access Network Control and Orchestration
  • Optical Wireless Indoor Networks and Applications
  • Technology, Architecture and Protocols for Energy Optimization in Optical Access Networks
  • Hybrid-Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) Access Networks and Applications
  • Architectures, Protocols, Control Planes and Physical Layer for Convergence of Access and Metro Networks and Convergence of Fixed and Mobile Networks
  • Optical Local Area Networks (LANs) and Applications
  • Multi-Dimensional (Time, Wavelength, Space, Polarization) Capacity Increase and Sharing
  • Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) Architectures
  • Sensing Applications in Access Networks

N5: Market Watch, Network Operator Summit and Data Center Summit (INVITED PROGRAM ONLY)

The N5 programs takes place on the exhibit floor and comprise of the following:

  • The Network Operator Summit and Data Center Summit are daylong programs shaped around the needs and interests of carriers and content providers. They feature topics and speakers of interest to CTOs, network architects, network designers and technologists. The program includes a keynote speaker and several panel sessions.
  • The Market Watch is a three-day series of panel discussions that covers the latest application topics and business issues in the field of optical communications. The sessions highlight developments in equipment and components as they relate to all facets of the communications markets from submarine systems to data center networks.

The Network Operator Summit and Data Center Summit sessions are where service providers discuss what they are doing with the latest technologies and their strategies for modernization of their networks for business evolution.

The context is: 

  • Which of the latest technologies and current trends in optical communication are of interest to network and data center operators and should be deployed?
  • What are their requirements and visions for present and future technologies?
  • How do the demand and functional requirements for new technologies and evolution strategies differ between hyperscalers and incumbent carriers, large, medium and small operators?
  • What are the business drivers and use cases for deploying new enabling technologies and supporting novel customer services?
  • What are potential brownfield conditions of network and data center operators and service providers and what transition strategies can be pursued to overcome legacy infrastructures and modernize their production and services?
  • What are the key gaps to achieve the objectives (including technology, standards and regulation)?

Market Watch comprises a General State of the Optical Industry session as seen from the industry and financial analysts' view and then dives deep into the component technology and OEM manufacturers that are creating platforms to address these latest topics and trends in the optical industry. The Market Watch segment looks at two years to present technologies from now to near-term deployments and applications in all parts of the network from LAN and data center internal networks to optical core and incorporating data centers and data center interconnect. This includes next-generation ethernet and circuit-switched transport (e.g., OTN) to high-speed optical transmission and switching technology and new deployments in PON, wireless and quantum telecommunications as well as operational strategies.  

Particular topics of interest include:

  • Keynote address by provider luminary on hot industry topics and their application in service or content provider networks;
  • State of the optical industry in the eyes of the analysts;
  • Standardization bodies and trends;
  • Network technology requirements for network and data center operators and content providers;
  • Trends in service and content provider networks: Industry consolidation, cloud computing enablement, content distribution, network service virtualization;
  • New architectures for legacy infrastructure and services;
  • Trends at data centers, demands, enablers, architectures;
  • Disaggregation options and trends in optical networks and data centers;
  • Cloud data centers and servers with high-speed connectivity;
  • Optical technology progression in data center interconnects - both inside and between data centers;
  • AI impact inside and outside of data centers;
  • Optical components and the latest integration trends: Emerging technologies and their market impact on network deployment;
  • Energy efficiency solutions for data centers and optical networking;
  • Pluggable optics and its enabling technologies and applications;
  • IP/optical integration solutions;
  • Network orchestration and control architectures;
  • Practicality of network convergence, SDN architectures and NFV applications;
  • Enablers for optical network automation and predictive maintenance, including AI applications;
  • Engineering and deployment of latest bandwidth products;
  • Ways to monetize the network infrastructure;
  • Access networks and PON;
  • How optical networks will support the mobile network’s progression beyond 5G;
  • 5G/B5G, emerging 6G and IoT applications and use cases;
  • Optical solutions for mobile fronthauling and synchronous networking;
  • Quantum technologies and quantum key distribution.