Daniel King
In June 2023 TeraFlow visited the Next Generation and Optical Networks (NGON) and 5G Transport Conference at the Center Expo Congress in Mandelieu-La Napouleis, France. The event focused on optical networking and transport technologies for 5G networks. It is a platform for industry professionals, researchers, and experts to gather, share knowledge, discuss advancements, and explore the latest trends in optical networking and 5G transport.
The conference typically features presentations, panel discussions, technical sessions, and exhibitions that cover various aspects of NGON and 5G transport, including technologies, standards, deployments, and use cases. It brings together participants from diverse sectors, including telecommunications operators, equipment manufacturers, network infrastructure providers, academia, and research organisations.
The key topics addressed at the NGON and 5G Transport Conference this month included:
- Recent Advances in optical networking technologies: The conference covers advancements in optical networking components, systems, and architectures that support high-capacity, low-latency, and reliable transport infrastructure for 5G networks. This includes discussions on technologies like DWDM pluggables, OTN, coherent optics, and subsea optical fibers;
- 5G transport requirements and challenges: participants explored the specific requirements and challenges associated with the transport network for 5G, such as high capacity, low latency, synchronisation, network slicing, and flexibility. It discusses how optical networking technologies can address these requirements and enable efficient 5G transport;
- Network slicing and virtualisation: presenters addressed the concept of network slicing and its implications for the transport network. Presentations highlighted the role of virtualisation technologies, such as SDN and NFV, in enabling efficient and flexible transport infrastructure for different network slices;
- Automation and deployment experiences and case studies: several operator experts shared their experiences, best practices, and case studies related to deploying optical networking and 5G transport solutions using automation tools and network programmability techniques. They discussed real-world deployments, challenges encountered, and lessons learned in building and managing transport networks for 5G.
The TeraFlow workshop provided a view on the “Role of Standards in Automating Intelligent Optical Networks”.
Chaired by Adrian Farrel, the agenda included:
“Operator Requirements and Use Cases for Automated Networking”
Juan Pedro Fernandez Palacios Gimenez, Head of Unit 'Transport Networks, Telefonica CTIO
Juan highlighted that open and standard interfaces enable a wide variety of automation use cases in multivendor networks, and network programmability is key to optimising network resources for new service demands and applications.
“Using Standards to Control of Disaggregated IPoWDM Solutions”
Filippo Cugini, Head of Research, CNIT Italy
Filippo highlighted IPoWDM research challenges related to standardisation and advanced use cases, such as converged packet optical transport solutions based on coherent pluggable modules directly inserted into computing resources.
“Deploying Intent-based Capabilities for Network Automation”
Daniel King, Old Dog Consulting
Daniel communicated that “intent” is an evolutionary step towards autonomous intelligent networks. Intent will enable holistic management of optical infrastructure.
“Intelligence and Agility: IETF Efforts towards the Future Optical Networks”
Haomian Zheng, Chair IETF Routing Area Directorate, Secretary IETF CCAMP Working Group
Haomian showed how the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) drives the vision of Intelligence and Agility, including intelligent solutions for Optical Transport Networking (OTN) and leveraging AI/ML techniques to generate and operate optical Digital Twin models.
In Summary
Our workshop provided insights into IETF standardisation efforts for automating intelligent optical network control. It discussed the current collaboration between industry players and standardisation bodies to ensure interoperability and compliance with global standards.
It was a privilege to be invited to participate and contribute at The NGON and 5G Transport Conference. We were able to leverage our TeraFlow developments and collaborate among industry professionals and stakeholders involved in developing, deploying, and operating optical networking and transport technologies for 5G networks, and beyond.
