Optical Network Automation and Programmability for 6G: State-of-the-Art, Vision, and Challenges

Other conference contribution, 2023

The current 6G vision foresees a massive increase in connected devices and more widespread adoption of local/distributed intelligence. To support this paradigm shift, optical networks will need to operate in a more dynamic and flexible fashion, and the control and management will need to be highly automated, programmable, and scalable. In this tutorial, we will analyze which of the 6G requirements can be supported by network automation and programmability, and what are the current developments in these areas. We will conclude by discussing the challenges that need to be addressed in the near future.