Nestor Workshop at ONDM2026

Connectivity is a fundamental enabler of today’s information society, with optical networks forming the backbone of global communications. The rapid growth of cloud services, AI-driven applications, and future mobile systems is pushing access and metro networks beyond current sub-terabit capacities, while simultaneously increasing requirements on cost efficiency, latency, energy consumption, and flexibility.

This workshop focuses on next-generation converged metro–access optical networks, addressing technological, architectural, and operational challenges. Topics include high-speed coherent transceivers, pluggable optics, advanced control and management frameworks, and emerging requirements driven by AI-native services and 6G systems, such as synchronization and dynamic reconfigurability.

By bringing together academia, network operators, system vendors, and hyperscalers, the workshop aims to foster discussion on how metro–access networks can evolve to efficiently support future high-capacity, low-latency, and flexible connectivity, including integration with non-terrestrial networks.