Achieving Automated 1Tbps-Class Optical Network Configuration in IOWN APN Based on Open Standards
Demonstrating instant on-demand optical wavelength circuit provisioning at OFC2025

News Highlights:

Background

APN, an optical network based on the IOWN⁹ concept, leverages optical technology to provide customers with high-capacity, low-latency, energy-efficient optical wavelength circuits. In 2023, the NTT Group launched APN1.0 [1], a service utilizing APN.
　To further enhance the value delivered through APN, NTT is advancing research and development in optical networking technology by utilizing the APN architecture, as defined by the IOWN Global Forum (IOWN GF) [2]. Additionally, NTT and NTT Com, in collaboration with numerous partner companies, are working with IOWN GF, Open ROADM MSA, and TIP to standardize open specifications that enable interoperability between multi-vendor controllers and communication devices.
　At OFC2025, NTT and NTT Com will jointly demonstrate the latest technologies developed by the NTT Group, along with real-world implementations of APN based on open specifications (Figure 1).

Exhibit Overview

At the OFC2025 exhibition, booths #5029 "IOWN Networking Hub" and #5128 "OpenROADM MSA" will host a collaborative demonstration involving multiple companies (Table 1), forming APN by interconnecting devices based on open standards (Figure 2).
　In this setup, real-world multi-vendor equipment will be replicated as virtualized infrastructure, and the digital twin of the optical network will be used to automatically optimize 1Tbps-class optical wavelength circuits. This technology is highly effective for instant deployment of services leveraging APN, such as remote production [3], remote surgical assistance [4], and data center exchange [2].

Figure 1 Automated Optical Wavelength Circuit Configuration in All-Photonics Network (APN)

Table 1 Joint Verification of Optical Networks: Partner Organizations and Companies

Figure 2 Configuration an Open-Standard Demonstration Network Controlled by a Digital Twin of Optical Network
Note. Connecting booth #5029 "IOWN Networking Hub" (simulating a remote site) and booth #5128 "OpenROADM MSA" (simulating a long-distance optical network) to form an APN. The optical wavelength circuit is configured from booth #5029. Based on the IOWN APN architecture, both the optical wavelength circuit and the monitoring/control line for communication devices between the two booths are connected optically, without conversion.

■ APN Connecting Devices Based on Open Standards

In open forums such as IOWN GF, Open ROADM MSA, and TIP, the development of open standards has progressed, enabling multi-vendor communication systems to interconnect seamlessly. As a result, APN can now be built using products from multiple vendors.
　At OFC2025, organizations including NTT, NTT Com, Orange, Telefonica, in collaboration with open forums (IOWN GF, Open ROADM MSA, and TIP), will demonstrate the interconnection of optical wavelength circuits using multi-vendor devices based on open standards.
　This demonstration will feature a multi-vendor network set up at booth #5128 by Open ROADM MSA and OpenLab@UT Dallas¹⁰, connected to the "IOWN Networking Hub" at booth #5029 via optical transceivers¹¹ at 400Gbps, 800Gbps, and 1.2Tbps. This setup will showcase the real-time provisioning of end-to-end, high-speed optical wavelength circuits between remote data center locations.

Optical Monitoring and Control Line for Data Center Communication Devices

For effective monitoring and control of communication devices installed in remote data centers, it is crucial to extend the monitoring and control line¹², which is called optical supervisory channel, to remote locations. IOWN GF and Open ROADM MSA define the method to provide a optical supervisory channel,, aligned with the end-to-end optical wavelength circuit requirements of APN.
　In this demonstration, developed Beluganos¹³ communication software enables remote communication devices to receive control information optically, without conversion. This showcases the feasibility of remote control of data center communication devices through an optical supervisory channel.

Optical Transceiver Control Using Open-Standard Control Interfaces

To support the verification of APN, the NTT Group and Orange have extended TransportPCE¹⁴, which is an open-source controller complies with Open ROADM MSA, by adding OpenConfig¹⁵ interface, a control interface for data center equipment. This enhancement allows direct control of communication devices in data centers via the OpenConfig interface, enabling on-demand connectivity.
　Furthermore, to realize "IP over DWDM"¹⁶ in envisioned in TIP's MANTRA¹⁷, we are leveraging the open-source controller Teraflow¹⁸, developed under the leadership of Telefonica for IP-layer devices. By utilizing OpenConfig, we extend its capabilities to control optical transceivers, enabling seamless integrated control of the IP and optical layers.
　These advancements contribute to more flexible and efficient optical network management, supporting the growing demand for high-speed, on-demand connectivity in modern data centers.

■ Instant On-Demand Configuration of 1Tbps-Class Optical Wavelength Circuits Using Digital Twin Technology

In APN, which connects devices based on open specifications, multiple vendors' communication equipment can be integrated. However, accurately determining the optimal optical propagation power level for setting up optical wavelength circuits has been a challenge.
　The digital twin technology we are showcasing overcomes this by utilizing optical transmission line visualization technology [5] to analyze measurement data from optical signals within the communication equipment. This enables precise estimation of optical propagation power levels along the transmission line. Using this data, we recreate the optical network in a digital space, optimizing power levels to maximize circuit performance before configuring the communication equipment.
　Additionally, we have integrated an AI-supported interactive system that allows operators to monitor the real-time state of APN. In this demonstration, we leverage the AI agent¹⁹, provided for testing by Hitachi, Ltd., to enhance operational efficiency.
　This technology eliminates the need for specialized optical transmission expertise, making it possible to seamlessly manage optical networks with mixed-vendor equipment. As a result, APN can provide 1Tbps-class optical wavelength circuits instantly and on demand.

Outlook

We have demonstrated an automated configuration technology necessary for the instant provisioning of high-speed wavelength services by utilizing a digital twin of the optical network in APN, which connects devices based on open specifications. The demonstrated technology aims to enhance APN's network system for commercial deployment. To achieve this, NTT Com is advancing field verification of the optical network digital twin technology in APN based on open specifications.
　The NTT Group will continue to provide flexible optical wavelength connections tailored to customer needs in services leveraging APN's low-power consumption, high-capacity, and low-latency capabilities, such as remote production, remote surgical support, and data center exchange.

Endorsement

"Open ROADM MSA is pleased to integrate IOWN requirements into the definition of its models and specifications. The demonstrations performed on IOWN GF and UT Dallas booths at OFC 2025 illustrate how collaboration between standardization forums efficiently contributes to build the future considering the most advanced optical technologies on the one hand and innovative concepts introduced in All Photonics Networks definition on the other" Olivier Renais, Open ROADM MSA Chair.

"TIP is proud to collaborate with NTT, IOWN Global Forum, Open ROADM and the TIP participants in the MANTRA subgroup to demonstrate the recent open and disaggregated IP over DWDM solution in a joint demonstration at OFC conference towards the realization of All-Photonics Network (APN) use cases. We believe the collaboration among different open forums is key to accelerate the development of open and disaggregated optical networks." said Arturo Mayoral López de Lerma, Head of Open Transport Technology at Telecom Infra Project."

"OpenLab @ UT Dallas is a neutral non-profit host facility supporting open networking including optical and 5G. Being able to show the state of the art solutions compliant with open standards from Open ROADM MSA, TIP, IOWN-GF, and other open initiatives at OFC, the largest optical exhibit in the world, is exciting for our Team. Hosting equipment from the leading suppliers in the industry to showcase their multi-vendor interoperability and programmability leading to deployable solutions for the network operators is key to our mission. We thank the open standards groups such as OpenROADM MSA, TIP, and IOWN-GF, equipment suppliers, component suppliers, and network operators for their continued backing in making many live demonstrations succeed," Andrea Fumagalli, OpenLab Director.

"The OpenDaylight optical network controller, TransportPCE, was originally designed to provide a reference implementation of Open ROADM models. The extension demonstrated by NTT at OFC 2025, in support of the All-Photonics Networks developed in the IOWN Global Forum, usefully extends the TransportPCE support of the most widely adopted standards" says Eric Hardouin, VP, Networks and Infrastructures Research at Orange, and member of the IOWN Global Forum Board of Directors. "This achievement complements the effort towards building an open control platform handling not only full, but also partial disaggregation, leveraging Open Line Systems and alien terminals through T-API and Netconf-Open ROADM/Openconfig APIs, respectively."

Other

Part of this exhibition has been conducted under the support of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) grant project "Research and Development on Service Function Enhancement Technology for All-Optical Networks and Remote-Control-Compatible Optical Transceiver Architecture" (JPJ012368G50201) and "Research and Development Project on DSP Circuit Implementation Technology for 1T-Class Optical Transport" (JPJ012368G50111).

[Reference]

^[1]News release: "Announcement on the Launch of APN IOWN1.0"
https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/news/2303/230302a.html (Japanese only)

^[2]News release: "Establishment and validation of optical wavelength path provisioning technology based on IOWN APN architecture for data center exchange services"
https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2023/10/13/231013a.html

^[3]News release: "World's first live audio remote production using IOWN APN
Utilizing IOWN APN in the year-end music program titled The Japan Record Awards"
https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2025/01/06/250106a.html

^[4]News release: "NTT Demonstrates Telesurgery Support Between Two Distant Hospitals Using IOWN APN" https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2025/02/28/250228a.html

^[5]News release: "World's first and most accurate field demonstration of end-to-end visualization of fiber-optic link without measuring equipment" https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2024/08/20/240820a.html

[Glossary]

¹Open All-Photonics Network (APN)
An innovative network based on photonics technology whose architecture is being developed openly at the IOWN Global Forum. As a network supporting the use case of IOWN, it enables direct connection between necessary points by optical wavelength line when necessary. An innovative network based on photonics technology, with architecture being openly developed at the IOWN Global Forum. As a network supporting IOWN use cases, it enables direct optical wavelength line connections between necessary locations when needed.
https://iowngf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IOWN-GF-RD-Open_APN_Functional_Architecture-2.0.pdf

²IOWN Global Forum
A new industry forum that promotes the realization of a new communication infrastructure, consisting of all-photonics networks including silicon photonics, edge computing, and wireless distributed computing, through the development of new technologies, frameworks, technical specifications, and reference designs, to meet the demands of data and information processing in the coming era.
https://iowngf.org/

³Open ROADM MSA
An MSA (Multi-Source Agreement) that defines the interfaces and specifications to enable interoperability of ROADM (Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer) systems between different vendors.
http://openroadm.org/

⁴Telecom Infra Project (TIP)
A global community involving hundreds of diverse members, working together to develop, test, and deploy solutions based on openness, disaggregation, and standardization, in order to provide the high-quality connectivity required worldwide.
https://telecominfraproject.com/

⁵Open specification
A common architecture and interface specification designed to interconnect communication devices and controllers from different vendors.

⁶Digital Twin for Optical Networks
A technology that replicates real optical network equipment as virtual equipment on a system based on measurement results and other data, and performs detailed analysis to enable advanced optical network control.

⁷Remote Production
A method in video production that connects the shooting location and production base via a network to facilitate the production process.

⁸Data Center Exchange
A service that provides high-capacity, low-latency connections between geographically distributed data centers.

⁹Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN)
A network and information processing infrastructure, including terminals, that optimizes both individual and collective elements based on all available information. It utilizes innovative technologies centered around optical systems to provide high-speed, large-capacity communication and vast computational resources.

¹⁰OpenLab@UT Dallas
An industry association, led by the University of Texas, aimed at creating innovations in open networks, providing a testing environment for optical network interconnection.

¹¹Optical transceivers
A device equipped with transmission and reception functions for optical transmission of data signals.

¹²Equipment Monitoring and Control Line
A control line used for monitoring and controlling communication devices, rather than transferring user payload signals.

¹³Beluganos
A network OS (NOS) for white-box devices developed by NTT in collaboration with IP Infusion.
https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2023/03/28/230328b.html

¹⁴TransportPCE
An open-source controller for wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) transmission devices that complies with the data model defined by OpenROADM MSA.

¹⁵OpenConfig
A device control data model commonly used in communication devices in data centers.

¹⁶IP over DWDM
A line provisioning method that connects optical transceivers of L0/L3 communication devices, such as routers, to a long-distance wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) network.

¹⁷MANTRA
A project under TIP Open Optical Packet Transport. An open project that enables the IP over DWDM use case by controlling pluggable transceivers from L0/L3 devices through OpenConfig.
TIP_OOPT_MANTRA_IP_over_DWDM_Whitepaper-Final-Version3.pdf

¹⁸Teraflow
An open-source controller that integratively controls IP layer and optical layer communication devices implemented at ETSI.

¹⁹AI Agent
Software that learns the operation of optical networks through machine learning and supports operators using natural language.

About NTT

NTT contributes to a sustainable society through the power of innovation. We are a leading global technology company providing services to consumers and businesses as a mobile operator, infrastructure, networks, applications, and consulting provider. Our offerings include digital business consulting, managed application services, workplace and cloud solutions, data center and edge computing, all supported by our deep global industry expertise. We are over $93B in revenue and 330,000 employees, with $3.6B in annual R&D investments. Our operations span across 80+ countries and regions, allowing us to serve clients in over 190 of them. We serve over 75% of Fortune Global 100 companies, thousands of other enterprise and government clients and millions of consumers.