The main outcome will be the availability of higher speed optical access networks and future end-to-end packet optical network architecture to be integrated and interfaced to the overall 6G architecture. Such systems can be applied to all domains in the system and allow a very energy-efficient data transport for very high throughput rates. Main targets are:

• Integration of high performance and highly efficient passive optical network based on various technologies (e.g., PON or DWDM) and adaptive multiband optical transmission, including xhaul into the overall 6G architecture.
• Integration of photonics and wireless systems including sensing.
• Protocols for the future end-to-end packet optical network architecture by taking into account adaptive multiband optical transmission, open and disaggregated optical networks.
• AI enhanced green optical networks and systems and AI enabled optical network automation as well as optical sensing for environment and networks.
• Enhanced trustworthiness with security enhancement and increased resilience.

The proposed activities should cover both R&I issues for low TRL topics and plan, towards the end of the SNS implementation, for demonstration of an end-to-end architecture, especially for very wideband use cases to demonstrate the overall energy consumption.

Necessary photonics components are expected to be provided by other initiatives such as Photonics 21 and/or Chips JU for use in the project, to exploit synergies between different initiatives.

Objective:

Please refer to the "Specific Challenges and Objectives" section for Stream B-03 in the Work Programme, available under ‘Topic Conditions and Documents - Additional Documents’.

Scope:

The scope of this topic focuses on the following areas:

• Higher speed optical access networks and future end-to-end packet optical network architecture in all network domains to provide very high capacity and to support very wideband services and applications in an energy-efficient way.
• Architectures and protocols for access and backhaul use cases and potentially for optical space links in NTN systems, where the components and systems are developed in other initiatives but integrated in SNS platforms.
• Integration of wireless and optical and optical sensing as support for services.
• AI support for network automation and efficient use of resources with respect to energy consumption and efficiency.
• Quantum networking over fiber for trustworthy systems and applications.
• Impact of photonic systems in 6G on energy consumption / sustainability.

Note: Applicants should clearly identify the areas/priorities they address in case they only cover a subset.