Novel Insights into Optical Networks, Including Their Role in the 6G Era

Dear Colleagues,

Optical networks have come a long way since the deployment of the first wavelength–division–multiplexing (WDM) links in the second half of the 1990s. Since then, we have seen the development of all-optical reconfigurable networks in which switching and routing can be implemented in the optical domain by means of modules such as reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) and reconfigurable optical cross-connects (ROXCs).

On the other hand, 6G will support even more demanding mobile use case categories, as compared to 5G, and for this purpose, a number of innovations at component, system, and control levels need to be introduced. As a consequence, further progress is expected in various domains, encompassing the development of fixed Internet Protocol/optical transport network (known as x-haul) which interlinks the radio access network (RAN), mobile core network (CN), and the Internet. This network will serve as the foundation for 6G since it facilitates the transmission of combined user traffic and its global circulation.

Authors are invited to submit manuscripts within the scope of this Special Issue, which includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Enabling technologies regarding modules, devices, and subsystems for optical networking;
• All-optical switching and networking for core, metro, access, and data center applications;
• Hybrid networks;
• 6G networks and optical communication systems;
• Network-wide modeling and optimization methods;
• AI and network automation;
• Integration of optical and wireless networks;
• Low-cost and low-power consumption transceivers.

Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Pagiatakis
Dr. Dimitris Uzunidis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.