Advancements in Reconfigurable Optical Networks for 5G/6G Integration

As 5G networks reach maturity and 6G research moves into active development, optical networks are shifting from static, bandwidth-heavy pipes into dynamic, intelligent, and reconfigurable foundations for next-generation connectivity. This Research Topic addresses the critical bottleneck this shift creates: how to advance reconfigurable optical technologies fast enough to keep pace. Key knowledge gaps remain in scaling optical switching capacity, minimizing latency during dynamic reconfiguration, and orchestrating heterogeneous resources across transport, access, and wireless domains. Integrating AI-driven intelligence into the optical layer raises further open questions around real-time optimization and physical-layer stability.To address these challenges, this Research Topic brings together advances in photonic device innovation, network architecture design, intelligent control frameworks, and experimental testbeds. By connecting progress across hardware, control, and application layers, it aims to map a technological roadmap toward resilient, high-throughput, energy-efficient optical infrastructure supporting the 5G-to-6G transition.The rapid growth of ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), and immersive extended reality (XR) services is placing unprecedented pressure on optical transport networks. Traditional static or semi-static switching architectures cannot adapt to the spatiotemporally fluctuating traffic patterns and strict delay budgets that 6G will demand. Beyond dynamic bandwidth scaling, modern optical networks must also serve as unified platforms for diverse access applications and distributed edge computing. Overcoming these architectural and physical limitations calls for breakthroughs in optoelectronic components, cross-layer control schemes, and advanced sensing capabilities that coexist with data transmission. This Research Topic offers a platform for solutions that bridge emerging optical innovations with the practical demands of 5G/6G deployment.This Research Topic welcomes original research papers, comprehensive reviews, and open-access benchmark datasets on reconfigurable optical networking frameworks for 5G/6G systems. Sub-themes of interest include, but are not limited to:• Key optoelectronic components and devices: photonic integrated circuits (PICs), novel modulators, fast optical switches, and tunable transceivers for 5G/6G optical networks.• Large-scale optical switching networks: flexible spatial/wavelength/mode-division multiplexing (SDM/WDM/MDM), and large-scale reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs)/OCS.• Fixed-mobile convergence: unified optical-wireless access architectures, converged time-sensitive networking, and radio access network evolution.• Integrated sensing and communication: multi-functional optical fiber networks combining sensing, encryption, computing, and high-speed communication.• AI-enabled and AI-agent orchestration: machine learning and autonomous AI agents for real-time traffic prediction, self-healing, dynamic wavelength routing, and QoT optimization.• Lab/field demonstrations and datasets: real-world experimental testbeds, field trials, and prototype validation across generations.Dr. Sabidur Rahman is employed by AT&T Labs Inc. The remaining Topic Editors declare that the Research Topic was managed in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Topic editors: Andrea Marotta, Yixiao Zhu, Sabidur Rahman Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85157/advancements-in-reconfigurable-optical-networks-for-5g6g-integration