Optical Connections Industry Focus 2022-2023

CONTENTS

Industry News

LOTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2023 Welcome to the last edition of Optical Connections for 2022. It’s been an interesting year for sure. I’ve tried to pick out some of the more memorable news stories and most innovative products, but it wasn’t an easy task. Looking towards 2023, I don’t expect the next 12 months to be any different, given the rate at which the fibre optic and photonics industries are progressing. Indeed, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2023, in terms of new technologies and ways of managing them. In this issue, we asked some industry experts to give their thoughts on the year ahead, with some interesting results. We also talk to Netcracker’s Susan White about automating network management, and there’s an excellent article by Infinera’s Fady Masoud on how XR Optics could be a game changer in the coming year . Also looking to the future is Ciena’s Helen Xenos, on the future of coherent technology and where the company is heading in the future. In the EPIC CEO interview, Steven Goetstouwers, CEO of Admesy, gives an insight into running a company specialising in using photonic measurement techniques in the consumer electronics market. Looking back at 2022, one of the highlights of the year was ECOC 2022, which took place in Basel. The numbers of visitors, exhibitors and speakers were back to pre-Covid levels and four innovative and very happy companies walked away with Industry Awards. However, ECOC is an on-going process and preparations are already well underway for ECOC 2023 Exhibition, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, on 2nd – 4th October. At the other end of the year, there’s our second TOP Conference in London on 13th-14th February to look forward to. Already, the line-up of experts from the telecoms, optics and photonics industries is impressive, so it’s an event that’s not to be missed. The team at Optical Connections and ECOC Exhibition would like to wish all our sponsors, advertisers and readers a very happy and successful 2023 and we look forward to continuing our relationships for another 12 months.