Optical networking and technology innovation

Optical networking technologies have evolved significantly over the last few years: 100G coherent has been commercialized; flexibility in data rate, frequency grid and modulation format is a hotly debated topic; energy efficiency is becoming even more important, and tighter integration of the packet and circuit switched world continues to be of highest interest. Since the last Bell Labs Technical Journal (BLTJ) issue devoted to optical systems and networking was published in winter 2010, it seems timely to address these developments in a new BLTJ issue on Optical networking and technology innovation.