ECOC 2021
be taken for granted. Also the ability to physically demonstrate products from booths and speak to live audiences with presentations has been sorely missed. Day Two of the 2021 edition of Europe’s largest optical connections delivered all of that and more. The halfway mark of the gathering in Bordeaux of the industry’s biggest names meant that it was time to recognise the significant achievements in advancing the business of optical communications and related activities. Hosted at the Product Focus theatre, the ECOC Industry Awards were presented in front of an anticipating crowd eager to see who would take home the award programme’s second year of trophies. First to accept an award, for the Best Fibre Component Product category, was Lumenisity for the NANF CoreSmart cable. Michael Lebby was up next on behalf of Lightwave Logic to accept the Optical Integration Award. Other winners included Ciena, Source Photonics and II-VI. Ciena’s Paulina Gomez said the company “recognises ECOC as a place for knowledge sharing and cooperation, but also one that steers innovation in our industry.” For a full list of award winners, see page 30. The bar for quality insight and leading knowledge set on Monday was met by Tuesday’s presenters, which started with a morning session from China Mobile’s senior expert on Optical Access Junwei Li. Li explored the readiness of 50G-PON in terms of technology, standards and the ecosystem. Other topics explored throughout the day – from speakers from Cisco, LightCounting, Corning and more – included Fibre vs IAB in 5G
Market Focus was well attended as usual.
x-haul, Routed Optical Networking and BIDI transceivers. The latest innovative products got their limelight before the awards ceremony at the Product Focus theatre. Infinera, TRUMPF Photonic Components and Optomind Inc. shared their latest innovations. DAY THREE The expo ended on a high. Eager crowds at the presentation theatres and well-received discussions rounded off a successful return for ECOC to the exhibition halls as this year’s calendar highlight for the European – and global – optical connections industry drew to a close in Bordeaux. Representing the first experience of face-to-face events for many attendees this year, ECOC Exhibition 2021 was a reminder of what had been sorely missed for too long – and a welcome resumption of the industry’s yearly meeting hub. After accepting the award for Most Innovative Product/Optical Integration
on behalf of II-VI for the company’s OIF Type (2) IC-TROSA, Sanjai Parthasarathi was the first speaker of the final day of Market Focus. Parthasarathi explored how, as we’re increasingly aware of the importance of high-speed connectivity to our lives including in critical applications like telehealth, connecting underserved communities is a priority of the global community and organisations like UNESCO. He identified satellite networks as a promising tool and the expectation of the emerging ‘New Space’ market to leverage Optical Communications innovations and the associated opportunities. Following presentations came from Intel, Infinera, Hyperlight, Consortium for On-Board Optics and OIF on topics ranging from Data Centre Optics to the Integrated lithium-niobate electro- optic platform – wrapping up a typically insightful, thought-provoking and popular Market Focus roster. Across the exhibition hall at the Product Focus theatre, the agenda for the day was split into two sessions from Infinera and EPIC, respectively. Infinera’s kickstart to the morning was a journey through XR Optics, including its benefits and applications and the perspective of Open XR Forum. The Product Focus theatre stayed packed for EPIC’s afternoon trip throughout the whole photonics supply chain of optical communications. The talk included component design, fabrication, packaging and test, and their deployment, encouraging all participants and speakers to answer the so-called EPIC question: what can you do for the others and what can the others do for you? To view all the presentations at ECOC 2021, please click here. latest products from the world’s leading and innovative companies. ECOC Exhibition thanks all of the sponsors, exhibitors, attendees and event staff for their participation and support for making our first year back a reality and making Bordeaux 2021 a successful event. We can’t wait to see you again next year.
Meeting face-to-face once again.
BACK IN BASEL
After a successful return to the much- missed in-person format, we are delighted to announce next year’s host city as Basel, Switzerland. Make sure you return for ECOC Exhibition’s 27th year from 19-21 September 2022 to reconnect and meet up with colleagues, learn about new developments in the optical communications industry, and see the
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INDUSTRY FOCUS 2021/2022
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