EVENT FOCUS OFC 2024
OFC 2024 CELEBRATES
UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS OFC 2024 concluded having exceeded expectations and solidifying its status as the premier global event for optical networking and communications, with 12,500 registrants from 74 countries, and more than 630 exhibiting companies (23% more than 2023), and hundreds of sessions with industry-renowned and invited speakers.
SHOW FLOOR PROGRAMMING The business-focused show-floor programming provided valuable insights into current market trends and emerging technologies. Market Watch, the Network Operator Summit, and the Data Centre Summit offered perspectives from industry leaders and experts, highlighting the industry’s current environment and future prospects. “The business-focused program at OFC serves as an essential cornerstone of the conference ecosystem, offering attendees invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of optical networking and communications,” added the OFC Chairs. “Providing a platform for showcasing the latest business, industry and technology trends, these programs are instrumental in shaping our understanding of current market dynamics and emerging technologies. As a free resource available to all attendees, this programming not only enriches our knowledge but also fosters meaningful dialogue among industry leaders and experts, driving forward innovation and strategic initiatives within the community.”
Topics such as 800ZR; Coherent PON; Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO); multicore fibre; artificial AI; data centre technology; quantum networking; and more captured the interest of industry leaders, experts, academia, media, analysts and students worldwide, facilitating the exploration of the latest advancements in optical technology. “OFC has always evolved to where the optical market is going and this year is no different as AI has taken over the show,” said Woo Jin Ho, Analyst - Hardware and Communications Equipment at Bloomberg Intelligence. “It’s clear that optical technology is going deeper into the data centre, and OFC is the platform to meet a new class of innovators and the next wave of disruption.” OFC PLENARY: Industry luminaries Anita Döhler, CEO of NGMN Alliance; Inder Monga, Executive Director of ESnet; and David Richardson, Partner Researcher at Microsoft, headlined the event. These distinguished speakers explored cutting-edge technologies, including quantum networking and next- generation networks, providing invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of optical communications. EXHIBITION The sold-out exhibition, held from 26-28 March, was a highlight, featuring more than 630 industry-leading companies representing the entire ecosystem of optical communications and networking.
Attendees had the opportunity to explore groundbreaking technologies, innovative optical components, devices, systems, test equipment, software and specialty fibre products. As a worldwide event, OFC provides startups with the opportunity to debut while industry leaders set the pace for the future. It includes unveiling pioneering trends that will define the industry’s trajectory and offer solutions to critical global issues such as quantum networking, artificial intelligence (AI) and data-centre connectivity. Optical Connections’ round- up of the top product launches can be found here. SUSTAINABILITY There was a notable emphasis on energy efficiency and showcasing solutions to address the escalating power consumption challenges in data centres, particularly due to the expansion of AI-driven applications. Technology demonstrations, product launches, and discussions, including a special media and analyst invite-only session featuring a panel of thought leaders, explored innovative technologies such as linear drive pluggable optics (LPO), co-packaged optics (CPO), optical switching and other emerging solutions aimed at reducing power consumption in optical interfaces within the network. OFCNET OFCnet, the live, high-speed optical network introduced in 2022, played a pivotal role in facilitating collaboration between exhibitors, research laboratories and commercial ventures. With expanded quantum demonstrations, OFCnet showcased emerging technologies from research to commercial deployment, underscoring its significance in driving optical networking excellence. “Through OFCnet, attendees experienced firsthand the transformative potential of quantum networking, programmability and network software for big data applications,” said Marc Lyonnais, director of External Research at Ciena and OFCnet Chair.
INTEROPERABILITY DEMONSTRATIONS:
Interoperability demonstrations led by organisations such as Ethernet Alliance, OIF and Open ROADM showcased breakthrough technologies and the latest in industry standards. Live demonstrations, some boasting the largest involvement ever, spanned a range of technology areas, including 800G solutions, OpenZR+ optics, energy-efficient interfaces and Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) implementations. “We are exceptionally proud of the achievements showcased at this year’s conference, particularly in driving the industry forward through standards and interoperability demonstrations,” added the OFC Chairs. “Looking ahead, we anticipate continued collaboration and innovation to shape the future of optical communications technology.”
OFC 2025 is scheduled for 30th March – 03rd April, in San Francisco, California, USA.
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| ISSUE 37 | Q2 2024
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