Optical Networks and Their Applications

Dear Colleagues,

We invite submissions to the Special Issue “Optical Networks and Their Applications” in Photonics. As optical networking technologies continue to evolve, they are enabling new paradigms in speed, scalability, security, and intelligence across future communication infrastructures. This Special Issue will highlight recent research, technological advances, and experimental findings across the full stack of optical communication, ranging from physical-layer transmission to AI-driven orchestration.

In response to growing interest and the guidance from our Editorial Board, we welcome contributions that expand the scope of research beyond traditional optical networking. Topics of interest include physical-layer innovations, digital signal processing, convergence with wireless technologies, and security at both physical and network levels.

This Special Issue invites contributions addressing categories including, but not limited to, the following:

• Advanced Optical Transmission Technologies at Subsystem and System Levels;
• Digital Signal Processing for High-Speed Optical Communication;
• Fibre–mmWave–Optical Wireless (OW) Convergence Architectures;
• Joint Communication and Sensing Using Optical and Hybrid Platforms;
• Photonic Integrated Circuits for Reconfigurable and Scalable Networks;
• AI/ML-Based Quality of Transmission Estimation and Fault Prediction;
• Elastic Optical Networks and Flexible Grid Spectrum Allocation;
• Physical-Layer Security for Optical Communication Systems;
• Quantum-Safe Networking and Integration of QKD in Optical Infrastructure;
• Energy-Efficient Design and Green Photonics for Sustainable Networks;
• Software-Defined and Disaggregated Optical Transport Architectures;
• Multicore and Hollow-Core Fiber Technologies for Capacity Scaling;
• Cross-Layer Optimization in Optical Network Design;
• Optical Transport Architectures for Next-Generation 6G Networks;
• Next-Generation Free-Space Optical

We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and visionary perspectives that address challenges and opportunities in the evolving landscape of optical networking. Contributions that demonstrate experimental validation, system-level integration, or interdisciplinary innovation, such as combining photonic devices with AI-driven control, software-defined networking, and hybrid optical wireless architectures are particularly encouraged.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Muhammad Umar Masood
Guest Editor

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 networks
• optical transmission systems
• digital signal processing (DSP)
• photonic integrated circuits (PICs)
• software-defined networking
• AI/ML in optical communication
• Fibre–mmWave–Optical Wireless (OW) convergence
• physical-layer security
• quantum-safe networking
• elastic optical networks
• joint communication and sensing
• free-space optical communication
• 6G transport