Welcome to the FutuRe Optical NeTworking (FRONT) Workshop 2026: Shaping the Future of Optical Networking.

Join us on September 1st, 2026, in Dublin for a revolutionary discussion on the future of optical networks. The FRONT Workshop aims to explore cutting-edge technologies and architectural advancements that will shape the next generation of fixed networks.

About the Workshop

The FRONT Workshop is dedicated to discovering technologies that enable progress towards future generations of optical networks. Our objective is to foster a revolution in fixed network technology, leading to extensive Fiber-To-The-Everywhere/Everything (FTTE) networks capable of supporting new service categories and reaching new markets and end users.

This year’s edition expands its scope to cover technologies and systems enabling various application areas of short reach optical networks, from AI clusters to 6G x-haul networks. The workshop will feature keynote talks, invited presentations, and panel discussions with global participants, creating an academic salon atmosphere for free discussion of future communications technologies.

Key Topics

Our workshop covers a wide range of cutting-edge topics in optical networking. The topics of primary interest include:

  1. 01Optical Communication systems and networks for AI clusters and Data centers
  2. 02Optical Communication systems and networks for x-haul and next generation FTTx
  3. 03Optical interconnects for AI Clusters and Datacenters
  4. 04Optical x-haul for 6G
  5. 05Optical Signal Processing for Next Generation Transceivers

Related Events

The FRONT Workshop is co-located with the Summer School on Optical Communication 2026, organised by the ICON Project and supported by the CONNECT Research Ireland Centre, taking place from 2 to 4 September 2026 at Trinity College Dublin.

Stay tuned for more updates on our program, invited speakers, and venue details. We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting event shaping the future of optical networking!

Organizers

Chair
Prof. Ioannis Tomkos
Prof. Ioannis Tomkos
University of Patras
Technical Program Chairs
Prof. Dan Marom
Prof. Dan Marom
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Dr. Raul Munoz
Dr. Raul Muñoz
Centre Tecnologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya
International Technical Program Committee
Dr. Laia NadalCentre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
Dr. Pantea Nadimi GokiNational Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications (CNIT)
Dr. Claudia HoessbacherPolariton Technologies
Dr. Luca PotiNational Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications (CNIT)
Prof. Moshe NazarathyTechnion University
Prof. Antonio TeixeiraUniversity of Aveiro
Dr. Jose Manuel Rivas MoscosoTelefonica
Prof. Stelios SygletosAston University
Dr. Dimitris KlonidisUbitech
Prof. Konstantinos YiannopoulosUniversity of Peloponnese
Prof. Michael LogothetisUniversity of Patras