15 Mar 2026
16:00 - 18:30
Room 408B
Optical technologies are a key enabler but also a main contributor to the cost and complexity of telecommunications infrastructure, both for fixed and mobile access networks. This workshop aims to explore the commercial potential of optical connectivity solutions in the rapidly evolving landscape of 6G mobile systems and ultra-broadband fixed access networks. The session will bring together experts from academia, industry, and operator communities to discuss how optical technologies can be harnessed for profitable applications in telecom. Participants will delve into state-of-the-art and evolution trends of particularly promising optical technologies, and will consider the specific complexities of designing, deploying and evolving access networks to imagine new possible business opportunities. The workshop will also cover the role of industry collaboration initiatives, where module suppliers, systems vendors and operators join forces to overcome technical challenges and unlock new markets supported by volume optical solutions.
The key questions to address in this workshop are:
- Which optical technologies could help to reduce the cost of deployment or operation of networks?
- Which new use cases and service enhancements could produce new revenues?
- Can we exploit synergies and reuse opportunities for datacom technologies and services?
- Are there synergies or overlaps between mobile and fixed access?
- PON for mobile transport, Fixed Wireless Access, both?
- What is the role of standards in these hybrid networks?
- Open/disaggregated or bookended/proprietary access networks?
Organizers
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Frank Effenberger
Futurewei Technologies Inc., United States
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Sudip Shekhar
University of British Columbia, Canada
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Antonio Tartaglia
Ericsson, Italy
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Jim Zou
Adtran, United States
Speakers
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Stefan Dahlfort
Ericsson, United States
Talk: Evolution of Optical Solutions to Support Radio Access Networks: An Industry Perspective
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Paola Iovanna
Ericsson, Italy
Talk: Reducing Operational Costs and Unlocking New Use Cases in RAN with AI
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Ryo Koma
NTT, Japan
Talk: Evolution of Optical Networks and Services: the IOWN Perspective
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Zhixin Liu
University College London, United Kingdom
Talk: Photonic-Aided mm-Wave / THz to Support Future Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access Networks
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Kevin Noll
CableLabs, United States
Talk: Evolution of Optical Access Networks and Broadband Services and Business, a Cable Operator Perspective
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Julie Raulin
Adtran Networks SE, Germany
Talk: Open Optical Networking to Support Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access Networks
During her Master’s studies in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at University College Cork, Julie worked with Tyndall National Insitute on introducing Software-Defined Networking (SDN) in switching devices to enable software-based control of the physical layer, including packet flows and the optical plane. She subsequently carried out doctoral research within Tyndall’s Photonic Systems group and UCC’s Computer Science Department, investigating new techniques to (re)configure, monitor, and control optical devices via SDN interfaces. Julie now works with Adtran on the development, extension, and evaluation of network planning, control, and automation solutions for sustainable and resilient packet and optical transport networks.
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Fabienne Saliou
Orange, France
Talk: Evolution of Optical Solutions to Support Fixed Broadband Access: A Telecom Operator Perspective
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Lena Wosinska
Chalmers Tekniska Högskola, Sweden
Talk: Evolution of Optical Solutions to Support Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access Networks: A Research Perspective
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Tony Zeng
Huawei Technologies Co., China
Talk: Novel Customer Premises Networks: FTTRoom, Integrated and Coordinated Wi-Fi