The Future of Optical Networking in 6G: Applications, Technologies and Trends

Dear Colleagues,

As the world advances toward the 6G era, optical networks spanning edge access, front and mid-hauls, metro, core, and future aerial and space domains will continue to play a pivotal role in enabling diverse new applications and supporting the 6G's key performance indicators (KPIs). 6G envisions transformative communication experiences and services, including extended reality (XR), immersive tactile–haptic applications, integrated sensing and communication, and AI/ML-driven intelligence, reshaping various sectors of society. How will different segments of optical networks evolve and synergize in the convergence of architecture, network control, and management in various 6G applications scenarios and use cases? What future-proofing technologies will be essential in addressing the stringent performance requirements, energy, and security challenges in 6G? We are pleased to invite you to submit your latest research and insights on the future shape of optical networking in 6G to this Special Issue (SI). This SI welcomes original research articles, case studies, and review papers, covering topics including but not limited to the following:

• Access, metro, and core optical network architectures, x-haul and fiber-wireless convergence for 6G applications, KPIs and user cases;
• 6G energy efficiency and resilience and security of optical networks;
• Optical networks supporting AI-native 6G and NextG;
• AI/ML-enhanced optical networks;
• Joint optical communication and sensing technologies;
• Satellite and deep space optical communication technologies;
• Optical quantum communication technologies;
• Fundamental limits of optical communications;
• Optical network resource allocation schemes and algorithms;
• Optical network management and automation.

Dr. Lihua Ruan
Dr. Sourav Mondal
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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.

• optical network
• 6G
• optical communication