During MWC 2025 in Barcelona, IDATE held the Green All-optical Network Forum themed "AI-Centric All-Optical Network for New Growth". More than 200 industry leaders from the European telecom regulator BEREC, the FTTH Council, carriers, and device vendors all gathered together to discuss the opportunities as well as challenges coming from all-optical networks in the AI era, from policies to markets, from services to network architecture, and from technology innovation to business models.
They reached a consensus that "F5.5G all-optical networks are the ideal choice for carriers to provide ubiquitous 10 Gbps access, deterministic user experience, and premium computing access and computing interconnection in the AI era. New opportunities are already upon us".
Jean-Luc Lemmens, IDATE CEO, noted that fibre networks are entering a new generation driven by AI. European operators which have successfully implemented 10G PON have recorded up to 10% ARPU increase. Fiber-to-the-Room solution is peaking up in Western Europe with all size operators launching the service.
Leading carriers, such as MasOrange (Spain), Zain (Saudi Arabia), Turkcell (Türkiye), and CTM (Macao), also shared their own digital/intelligent transformation strategies. The core of these strategies lies in reinforcing computing with network connectivity, powering networks with intelligence, and exploring new services with network advantages. Topics cover all-round network innovation practices, including FTTR, 10G/50G PON, OTN to edge, E2E OXC, 400G/800G, intelligent management and control platform, as well as service innovations such as FTTR+X-based smart home and computing private lines based on 1 ms metro optical networks. At the forum, China Unicom shared its business development concept of "China Unicom, Smart Home" and launched world-leading FTTR optical broadband. It continues to expand smart services such as smart connection, control, sharing, and security, and remains committed to building an open and shared smart home ecosystem. In addition, it has been working with all parties to build a smart home ecosystem, and explore a clear roadmap for home network construction and smart home service development in all industries. The sharing met with loud applause.
Kim Jin, Vice President of Huawei Optical Business Product Line, released Huawei's four innovative solutions at the forum. "Facing the historical opportunities and challenges brought by AI, Huawei continues to innovate together with operators, launching a series of 50G PON OLT products, single-wavelength 2T solution for metro, DC-oriented OTN platform for backbone, and AI-based intelligent management and control system," Kim Jin said in his speech. He went on to say, "These innovations will help operators build an AI-centric F5.5G all-optical network and embrace a win-win intelligent era."
There are four types of awards for this forum: home broadband service, all-optical network architecture, intelligent service innovation, and sustainable development. These awards were presented to leading carriers from Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa to recognize their excellent practices and outstanding contributions in green all-optical network technology innovation, home broadband, and computing network services.
The Green All-Optical Network Forum has been successfully held by IDATE for four sessions. It has been exploring the industry's future development based on industry consensus and technology innovation, with an aim to help industry members worldwide to embrace new opportunities. AI is becoming increasingly popular. Building an AI-centric.5G all-optical network will lay a solid foundation for AI growth and prosperity.
