Photonic technologies for new generation network

In this paper, we show the recent progress of physical layer technologies for the new generation network. There is much activity in the design of post-Internet or future networks. These are based on new design concepts that look beyond the next generation network (NGN) and the Internet. The future network will maintain the sustainability of our prosperous civilization and help resolve various social issues and problems by the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). In order to realize the future network, many novel technologies in the physical layer are required, in addition to technologies in the network control layer. In the physical layer, it is very important that especially technology to support real dynamic network operation, such as grid free, format free, and burst mode in both time and spectrum domain. An all-band burst-mode optical amplifier, burst-mode receiver, optical packet switching, and optical packet and circuit simultaneous transmission with field-installed fiber are demonstrated as examples of physical layer technologies for new generation network (NWGN) with real dynamic operation. Other related activities of dynamic optical networks will be also introduced.