Rest of 2010

• Datacenter switching: The main architectural developments such as the move to flat switching architectures, unified switch fabrics and new protocols. Status: Being written.

• Optical interconnect: The 100m dash: developments in parallel optics and active optical cables from 7m to 100m link distances.  Status: started.

• Optical module/ component manufacturing strategies: In-house or outsourcing, inventory, vertical integration.  Due date: November 2010.

• Next-generation PON: GPON, EPON and 10Gbps PON: status, technologies and deployments. Due date: December 2010.

2011 editorial calender

First half of the year

• Carrier 2.0:  As operators converge their wireless and wireline networks, a look at how operators’ business units are organised and how it is affecting decision making. Due date: January 2011.

• Silicon Photonics: Status of silicon optics: where it is being used and its impact on telecom and high-end computing. Due date: March 2011.

• WDM-PON: How much closer is WDM-PON to being standardised? Is there a role for WDM-PON or are advances in GPON and EPON pushing out the need for the technology? Due date: April 2011.

• Packet optical transport: Is the role of the all-in-one platform assured? What benefits does it bring operators and what are the alternatives. Due date: May 2011.

 Second half of the year

• Minimising cost per bit per km: Network optimisation from the IP to the photonic layer. How can operators minimise the cost of transporting traffic. Due date: July 2011 

• 100 Gigabit-per-second: A look at how 100 Gig client-side and line-side interfaces are progressing. Due date: Aug 2011

• Power dissipation: How are system and component makers going about minimising the power dissipation within enterprise data centres. Due date: Oct 2011

• Optical R&D: At the system and component levels: where are the dollars going and how do companies ensure a return on their investment. Due date: Dec 2011