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 employed in a system to demonstrate the system improvement should be submitted in S-track. A new application with utilizing existing device or fiber technologies should be submitted in N-track.
- S-track evaluates papers at the subsystem and system level at the areas outlined in the SC descriptions. If the key content is a device, component or fiber itself in the system, it should be submitted in D-track. Applications of the telecom network should be submitted in N-track.
- N-track focuses on the networking and service aspects of networks and systems at the areas outlined in the SC descriptions. A novel device, component or fibers should be submitted in D-track.
- 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 primary chosen subcommittee (SC) unless they get recategorized by the program chairs:
- Please select the primary and secondary SCs that seems the closest.
- The program chairs will review all submissions for correct SC categorization and make changes, if required. Secondary SC will be considered.
- 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 Classical Systems/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: Photonic Integrated Circuits, Micro-optics, Nanophotonics, and Switching Device
D3: Active Optoelectronic Components
D4: Fibers, Connectivity, Characterization 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: Photonic Integrated Circuits, Micro-optics, Nanophotonics, and Switching Devices
This subcommittee focuses on the experimental demonstration of integrated, micro-optical, nanophotonic and switching technologies for optical communication and computing.
Papers on high speed optoelectronic and electro-optic devices should be submitted to Subcommittee D3, papers covering nonlinear photonics should be submitted to Subcommittee D5, and papers on photonic switching in optical networks should be submitted to Subcommittee N3.
Particular topics of interest include:
- Single Mode and Multimode Photonic Integrated Circuit Building Blocks on Existing and Emerging Fabrication Platforms for Telecom, Datacom, Mid-IR, Visible, UV, etc.
- Planar and 3D Optical Circuits, Optical Signal Processing or Conditioning Components, and Non-Reciprocal Devices
- Photonic Components, Fabrication Methods and Platforms Incorporating Novel Substrates, Thin Films and 2D Materials
- Low Speed (> nanosecond) and Programmable Optical Phase Shifters, Spatial Light Modulators, Nonvolatile Devices, MEMS/NEMS, Including Reconfigurable Photonic Circuits and Switches
- Integrated and Micro-Optical Components for WDM, CWDM, OFDM, PDM, SDM, or MDM Systems
- 2D and 3D Integrated and Free-Space Switches, Optical Cross Connects, Optical Phased Arrays and Beamsteering Devices
- Engineered Photonic Components Incorporating Subwavelength Structures, Metamaterials, Metasurfaces, Plasmonics, and Topological and Non-Hermitian Concepts
- Photonic Components and Integrated Circuits Optimized by Fabrication Aware Methods, Inverse Design, and Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence
- Low loss Chip-to-Free-Space, Chip-to-Fiber, Chip-to-Chip Coupling Solutions, Including Detachable Connectors
- Photonic Devices for Cryogenic, Space, High Temperature and Other Harsh Environments
D3: Active Optoelectronic Components
This subcommittee focuses on activeoptoelectronic 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)
- Absorption, Mach-Zehnder and Ring Modulators (incl. Plasmonic, InP, Si, GaAs, LiNbO3, BTO, Polymer) for IM-DD and Coherent Schemes
- Pin, UTC and APD type Photodetectors (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 Studies in Active Components
- Components for THz, LiDAR, and free-space optical communications (S5)
- Components primarily based on nonlinear optical effects without the electro-optic effect, such as Kerr combs and Raman amplifiers (D5)
- Components primarily for single photon applications (SCQ)
D4: Fibers, Connectivity, Characterization and Propagation Physics
Fibers and propagation physics are at the heart of optical communications. D4 focuses on new optical fibers, fiber connectivity, characterization and measurement methodology, and propagation effects as well as on better understanding the characteristics and the use of optical fibers. The new optical fibers and their measurement methodology include not only telecom applications but also non-telecom applications such as fiber sensing.
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 and Measurement Methodologies for Sensing
- 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
- Neural Networks and Machine Learning applied to Fiber Manufacturing and Design
- Fiber Characterization and Measurement Techniques
- Field Studies, Installation, Metrology, Connectors, Enclosures and Splicing
D5: Fiber Devices, Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers, and Nonlinear Waveguides
This subcommittee seeks contributions on devices based on active, passive or specialty optical fibers and nonlinear waveguides. The scope covers amplifiers, lasers, supercontinuum and comb sources, and other fiber- and nonlinear waveguide-based devices and sensors, excluding semiconductor-based devices (addressed by D3) and fiber sensing methods, interrogators and systems, and signal processing for fiber sensing (covered by S4). Applications can be either telecom or non-telecom.
Particular topics of interest include:
- Doped Fiber and Waveguide Amplifiers
- Fiber Lasers and Short-pulse / Supercontinuum / Comb-Sources
- Raman, Brillouin and Parametric Fiber Amplifiers, Lasers and Devices
- Spatial-mode multiplexers and Multicore Multiplexers
- Phase-sensitive and –insensitive Amplifiers
- Nonlinear Device Evaluation and Assessment
- Machine Learning for Device Design, Optimization and Fault Detection
- Devices Based on Hollow-Core, Micro-Structured, Multi-Core, Multi-Mode and Specialty Optical Fibers
- Fiber Gratings and Couplers
- Fiber and Waveguide-based Sensing Devices (e.g., FBGs, interferometers, etc.)
- Non-Telecom Fiber-Based Devices and Sensors for Bio-photonics, Astro-photonics, Imaging, Avionics, and Automotive.
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 focusing on fiber sensing should go to S4. Fiber sensing utilizing optical network including network monitoring and control, and sensing field trials focusing on larger network deployments should go to N1, and novel devices, components and fibers for fiber sensing should go to D-track.
- Papers focusing on microwave photonics should go to S4.
- Papers exclusively focusing on Free-space Optics (FSO) including satellite communication, 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: Fiber-Sensing and Microwave Photonics
S5: S5: Wireless Optical and THz Communications
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 and Detection (IM/DD, Field Modulation-Coherent Reception, Hybrid and Other Approaches)
- Signal Processing (Analog, Digital, Hybrid) and Forward Error Correction (FEC)
- Wavelength, Space, Polarization and/or Time Division Multiplexing (WDM, SDM, PDM, TDM)
- VCSEL, DML, EML and other Transceiver Technologies
- Photonics Integration: Si PIC, InP PIC, GaAs VCSEL Arrays, Other Integration Approaches
- Optical Switching for Datacenter Connectivity
- Co-Packaged and Pluggable Subsystems
- Optics for AI/Machine Learning Clusters
- Datacenter Resource Disaggregation on the Physical Layer
- Standards-Driven Innovations and Technologies with Reach up to and Including 120 km
- Lab and Field Demonstrations with Reach up to and Including 120 km
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
- Standards-Driven Subsystems Innovations and Technologies for Systems Targeting more than 120 km Reach
- 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: Fiber-Sensing and Microwave Photonics
Subcommittee S4 focusses on optical processing technologies, especially as applied to fiber sensing and microwave photonic (MWP) for non-telecom applications. This subcommittee emphasizes system/subsystem-level integration and performance, showcasing how optical technologies address challenges in a wide range of areas not explicitly covered by other subcommittees, particularly when adapting techniques, fibers, and components originally developed for optical fiber communication. While we recognize the potential for co-existence of sensing and communication signals, this subcommittee primarily focuses on sensing-specific technologies.
Particular topics of interest include:
- Distributed/Discrete 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
- Exploiting Telecom-Related Fibers and Components for Novel Sensing Applications Beyond Telecommunications
- Microwave, mm-Wave and Terahertz Photonics Using Optical Processing for Non-Telecom Applications
- Stable Laser Systems and Time/Frequency Transfer Over Optical Fibers and Free-Space
S5: Wireless Optical and THz Communications
Subcommittee S5 focuses on photonic technologies that can realize a cost-effective platform for future ubiquitous wireless services including s free-space (FSO, OWC, VLC), radio-over-fiber (RoF), and satellite laser communication. Note that specific demonstrations about devices, components and fibers are covered by D-track.
Particular topics of interest include:
- Satellite Laser Communication
- Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking Techniques for Satellite Communications, Terrestrial Free Space Optical Comms, and Optical Wireless/Visible Light Comms
- Turbulence Mitigation Strategies for Terrestrial and Underwater Optical Links
- 6G Enabling Technologies including Radio-over-Fiber (RoF)
- Microwave, Millimeter-Wave, and THz Optical Fronthaul Systems
- System Level Demonstrations of PIC Technologies for FSO and RoF Applications
- Beamforming (Analog, Digital, Hybrid)
- Free Space Optical Communication in Terrestrial, Space, and Underwater Domains
- Visible Light Communication (VLC), Light Fidelity (LiFi), Optical Camera Communication (OCC)
- Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) Systems Leveraging Optical/Wireless/THz Technologies
- Time and Frequency Transfer Over Optical Wireless & THz Links
- Lab and Field Demonstrations for Wireless Optical Communications Techniques
- Machine Learning Applied to Wireless Optical & THz Communications
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 exclusively focusing on advanced photonic technologies in optical computing systems, including applications of optical processing technology to optical computing and accelerators, should go to N2.
- Papers focusing on control and management of optical networks including access, metro, core and data center 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: Optics and Photonics for Data Center and Computing Applications
N3: Architectures, Control and Management of Optical Networks
N4: Optical Access Networks for Fixed and Mobile Services
N5: Market Watch, Network Operator Summit and 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. Fiber sensing and network monitoring contributions that are applied to optical networks should be submitted to this subcommittee. Contributions that focus primarily on the fiber sensing method itself should be submitted to Subcommittee S4.
Particular topics of interest include:
- 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: Optics and Photonics for Data Center and Computing Applications
This subcommittee seeks original contributions centered around advanced photonic technologies in optical computing applications and Datacom 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. Novel devices for optical computing and acceleration should go to D-track.
Particular topics of interest include:
- Demonstration of Novel Programmable and/or Configurable Photonics and Photonic Architectures for Advanced Computing
- Optical Computing and Optical Accelerators for AI Processing, in Particular Focusing on Validated PICs/Chiplets for AI-driven Computing Application
- Optical Matrix-Vector Multiply and Photonic Tensor Technologies and Architectures
- Photonic Computational Technologies and Architectures, Including Photonic Memory, Photonic Weighting and Photonic Nonlinear Activation Functions
- Packaged and/or Prototyped Photonics for Interconnects, Transceivers, Switching, Processing and Storage in Data Centers and Photonic-Based Connectivity and Networks for AI-Driven Computing Applications 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, Control and Management for Optical Networks
This subcommittee seeks original research contributions on the evolution in control and management of access, metro and core 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:
- Access, metro, core, and Inter-DC Architectures and Networks, for Emerging Services
- 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 control for the access network, techno-economic studies, low power consumption, etc. Control and Management technologies of optical access network should go to N3.
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, including SDN and NFV aspects
- Low-Latency Solutions for Time Sensitive Fronthaul and User Plane Services
- Application of ML/AI Techniques to Access Networks
- 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
- Access Networks for Edge Processing
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