Optical Access Networks towards the 6G Era

Dear Colleagues,

Optical access networks have been evolving in the last 30 years, making advanced services that were unattainable by any other access network technologies a commercial reality today. The 5th generation has changed the landscape of mobile networks in a major way, with an evolved architecture relying on wireline technologies for the backhaul and fronthaul parts of the network, as well as softwarization of the entire network. This has resulted in increased capacity, spectral efficiency, energy efficiency, and improved flexibility. In this era, the definition and planning of 6G communication networks has begun, aiming to truly integrate a comprehensive set of applications, ranging from connected autonomous systems to surreal virtual reality. This evolution will require the support of Tbps data rates, massive low-latency control, augmented energy efficiency, and artificial-intelligence-enabled methodologies for network design and management. To cater for such demanding applications, research on flexible and sustainable optical-based access networks, able to support massive connectivity and services of highly diverse requirements, is of utmost importance.

This Special Issue aims at discussing the various aspects of optical network technologies, specifically designed for 6G-enabled access networks. Authors are invited to submit their papers on all areas related to optical access networks in the 6G era, including but not limited to the following:

• Optical technologies and systems for 6G-enabled optical access networks;
• Optical technologies for extreme performance, such as ultra-high peak data rate and low latency;
• Network architectures, functionalities, and interfaces for 6G optical-based networks;
• Artificial-Intelligence tools and data-driven design for 6G access networks;
• Advanced machine learning solutions for network management in optical-based 6G networks;
• Resource allocation and multiple-access schemes for 6G access networks;
• Network function virtualization in 6G networks;
• Optical-wireless convergence in 6G access/fronthaul networks;
• Optical-based hardware solutions for 6G;
• Enabling technologies for security, privacy, and data integrity;
• Vision, main drivers, novel services, and requirements for 6G.

Dr. John Vardakas
Dr. David Hillerkuss
Prof. Dr. Ioannis Tomkos
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 access networks
• 6G
• Artificial-intelligence-enabled networks
• Optical–wireless convergence
• Optical fiber communications