XXXX XXXX MATTHEW PEACH OFCHIGHLIGHTS
OFC 2018 EXPANDS TO 700 EXHIBITORSWITH 21% GROWTHOVER PAST 5 YEARS
Optical communications expo reports booming interest, square footage sold up by 44%. Matthew Peach reports on some highlights expected in San Diego.
10 percent over the five-year period through to 2021.”
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME OFC’s conference program o ers at least 1,100 conference sessions covering the latest ground-breaking optical innovations, data-center connectivity, 5G-oriented optical networking, quantum-scale and cloud computing, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in optical networks. Anchoring the week-long business and technical conversations and product demos, OFC’s plenary session features three industry visionaries discussing future innovations in optics-based communication technologies: ● John Doyle, the John G Braun Professor of Control and Dynamical Systems Electrical Engineering, and Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology. Doyle previews his talk thus, “E ective layered architectures such as the brain seamlessly integrate high level goal and decision making and planning with fast lower level sensing, reflex, and action and facilitate learning, adaptation, augmentation tools, and teamwork. “There will be live demos using audience’s brains highlight universal laws and architectures and their relevance to future network technologies. We’ll briefly give pointers to a new unified mathematical framework that we
O FC, North America’s – and one of the world’s – largest expos for optical communications and networking professionals, is continuing its long-term growth trajectory with more than 700 exhibitors booked and 15,000 attendees expected this year, according to organiser the Optical Society of America (OSA). Running 11-15 March at San Diego Convention Center, OFC has increased in overall square footage by 44% and experienced a 21% growth in exhibitor and attendee numbers in the past five years. Attendees get to hear the latest news and updates on groundbreaking optical communications innovations, data-centre connectivity, 5G network upgrades, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to optical networks. “Over the last few years, we have seen significant growth on the exhibit
floor and this year’s exhibits will expand to more than 350,000 square feet,” commented Melissa Russell, Chief Industry Relations O cer, at the OSA. “The last time OFC was in San Diego in 2010, we used only about 60% of the space in the Convention Center and in 2018 we are using all of it.” According to market research firm Ovum, the optical networking and communications market grew by 22% in the second quarter of 2017 and Ovum has forecast it to reach at least $16 billion this year. “OFC’s number of exhibiting companies has experienced the most significant growth, up 21% in just the last five years. We are encouraged to see such healthy numbers in the market,” Russell continued. Another analyst LightCounting Market Research also sees a continued growth trend in these markets recently stating that, “the total market for optical components and modules used in optical communications will grow at a compound annual growth rate of
14
| ISSUE 12 | Q1 2018
www.opticalconnectionsnews.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker