Workshops
O1: Challenges and Solutions to 200G-PON in Optical Access
The demand for higher bandwidth and faster connectivity is driving the development of 200G-PON technology, essential for applications like 8K streaming, VR/AR, industrial IoT, and 6G mobile xhaul. This workshop will gather industry leaders, researchers, and standards experts to discuss the technical and operational challenges of 200G-PON, including system design, advanced optical technologies, protocol evolution, and economic considerations. Key topics will cover ensuring compatibility with legacy networks, developing cost-effective and scalable solutions, and addressing the need for robust standardization. By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the workshop aims to pave the way for the successful development and deployment of 200G-PON systems, ensuring they meet the growing demands of modern connectivity.
Organizers
- HwanSeok Chung
- ETRI
- Frank Effenberger
- Futurewei Technologies
- Kota Asaka
- Tokyo City University
O1+P1: Latest Trends in Space Optical Communication Technology and NTN
This session features presentations and discussions by leading experts on the latest research and development in free-space optical communications and their applications in space and non-terrestrial networks. It offers a comprehensive overview of current trends, technological breakthroughs, and future directions in this field. The topics include the current statuses and plans for optical communication technologies in space and stratospheric regions, optical ground stations, and quantum key distribution for secure communications. The session aims to share insights on constructing large-scale networks that connect space, air, and ground, as well as robust communication infrastructures to enhance security. This session seeks to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers and engineers in this rapidly evolving field.
Organizers
- Yoshihisa Takayama
- Tokai University
- Hideaki Kotake
- National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
- Abdelmoula Bekkali
- Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
- Keita Mochizuki
- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
O1+O3: What are the Killer Applications of Advanced Network Monitoring and Fiber Sensing Technologies?
In recent years, there has been significant progress in optical fiber monitoring and sensing technologies utilizing fiber optic networks, sparking active research into their potential applications. To expand the global market for fiber optic sensing and monitoring and foster practical, profitable business opportunities, it is crucial to identify the most promising use cases—often referred to as "killer applications"—and determine the necessary actions to bring them to fruition. The key discussion points of this workshop include:
- - Applications spanning smart cities to geophysics
- - Utilization of both feedforward and backscatter techniques
- - The importance of standardization and collaboration (IEC, ITU-T, the IOWN Global Forum, etc.)
Organizers
- Yoshifumi Wakisaka
- NTT Corporation
- Philip Ji
- NEC Laboratories America
O2+O3+P1: Can SDM Survive the Hollow Core Challenge?
This workshop will explore the evolving landscape of high-capacity optical communications, focusing on the impact of hollow core fibers (HCF) on the future viability of Spatial Division Multiplexing (SDM). As SDM emerges as a leading strategy for increasing transmission capacity by utilizing multiple spatial channels within a single fiber, the rapid advancements in HCF technology present both opportunities and challenges. HCFs, with their ability to reduce latency, minimize non-linearities, and enable higher data transmission over long distances, may disrupt current SDM developments, calling into question the scalability and relevance of SDM in future commercial deployments.
Organizers
- Nicola Calabretta
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Salvatore Spadaro
- The Polytechnic University of Catalonia
- Ruben Soares Luis
- NICT
O4: Evolution of Photonics-Electronics Convergence Technology - Can We Make it, How and When?
The integration of photonics and electronics, whether through monolithic like System-on-Chip or via advanced packaging as System-in-package, has become critically important. This convergence plays an indispensable role in enabling modern AI and machine learning technologies. The synergetic integration of photonics and electronics finds unique applications in areas such as information processing, intelligent perception, automatic control, and optical computing. Once a subject of heavy debate, the inevitability of this technology is now widely acknowledged, therefore as reflected in the title of this workshop. The goal of this workshop is to explore and try to answer the questions of “how”, “what” and “when” of this evolution and identify key drivers to transform these advancements from concepts to realities through a global collaborative effort.
This workshop will address core topics, e.g.,:
- End-User Applications and Market Insights: Major applications driving industry needs.
- Core Process and Design Technologies: Strategies for implementation.
- Innovative Materials and Integration Strategies: Scaling beyond silicon’s capabilities.
- Advanced Packaging Technologies: Scaling out with higher I/O density in “ocean” or “shoreline” configurations.
- New Design Tools: Tackling challenges and exploring opportunities.
- Readiness of the service providers: including Wafer Fabrication, Ensuring a coordinated framework to support these efforts.
Organizers
- Mizuki Shirao
- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Patrick Lo
- Advanced Micro Foundry Pte Ltd
O4: Prospects and Enabling Technologies towards Multi-Tbps Long-Reach Transceivers
Coherent transceiver will play a key role in 6G era. In addition to traditional long reach metro/core network, its deployment in DCI/Intra-DC and access networks has been discussed to cope with capacity-hungry AI/ML applications. However, to provide large capacity transceivers for a variety of users covering LR to ZR+ range, technical innovations are necessary to largely reduce Joule/bit and Cost/bit. In this workshop, applications and key success factor of multi-Tbps beyond 1.6Tbps (e.g. 2.4Tbps, 3.2Tbps and further) will be discussed. Possible application area and target date of multi-Tbps class transceiver will be addressed from viewpoints of various ICT services. List and share the major technical and market challenges to the realization of multi-Tbps transceivers, introduce key technology candidates to solve these challenges, and discuss the roadmap to the realization of the multi-Tbps transceivers. Topics include networking and operational technologies, transceiver architecture, signal processing technology, and optical/electrical device and their integration technology.
Organizers
- Tomoo Takahara
- Fujitsu Limited
- Nobuhiko Nishiyama
- Institute of Science Tokyo
O5: Quantum Synergy: The Power of Optics in Next-Generation Quantum Information Technologies
Quantum computing technology is undergoing rapid advancements, marked not only by the increase in physical qubit numbers but also by significant milestones such as the demonstration of gate operations using quantum error-corrected logical qubits. The achievement signifies a new stage in quantum computing, with optical technologies playing a vital role. This session will explore a broad range of topics, including optics-based fault-tolerant large-scale quantum computation and quantum internet technologies that enable communication and collaboration between quantum processors. As the realization of fault-tolerant quantum computing becomes increasingly attainable, we will look toward the future, examining the crucial role that optical technologies will play in the development and scaling of quantum computers. The session aims to provide a forward-looking perspective on how optics will shape the next generation of quantum information technologies.
Organizers
- Akihisa Tomita
- Hokkaido University
- Nobuyuki Matsuda
- Tohoku University
PIF: Recent Trends of Research Projects
"The Internet traffic has been growing over the past decades and its growth rate is rising in these few years, which is spurred by the recent explosive spread of movie and Artificial Intelligence services. To support such traffic demand cost effectively, communication carriers need to innovate their networks with the minimum investment for CapEx and OpEx. The key to achieve this is to sustainably exploit optical communication technologies, in which government funded R&D projects are expected to play an important role.
This workshop is organized by PIF (Photonic Internet Forum http://www.scat.or.jp/photonic/english/ ) in Japan in collaboration with EU projects, and discusses recent progress made through the projects; the area ranges from optical networking to next generation optical transmission technologies.
Organizers
- Wataru Imajuku
- Kindai University
- Anna Tzanakaki
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens