Chris Wright, CTO, Red Hat; and a member of the Board of Directors at the IOWN Global Forum
The future of communications networks lies in shifting from electrons to photons. This transition is essential for meeting the demands of AI infrastructure, real-time data processing, and global connectivity. All-photonics networks (APNs) hold the key to unlocking these capabilities while significantly reducing power consumption. A fully optical network not only increases speed and bandwidth but also enables more sustainable digital ecosystems.
As we accelerate this transition, it’s crucial to keep sustainability at the forefront. The environmental benefits of APNs are profound — offering reduced energy consumption and lower operational costs for organisations. Recognising this, Red Hat, in collaboration with IOWN Global Forum members, has established an Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Task Force.
The transition from electronic to optical networks requires new infrastructure and smarter integration. Silicon photonics will play a central role in this evolution by embedding optical components directly into semiconductor chips, enabling faster and more efficient data transmission. In addition, optical switching will replace traditional electronic packet switching, further reducing latency and power consumption.
On a larger scale, technologies such as dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) will increase network capacity by allowing multiple data signals to be transmitted over a single fibre. Meanwhile, reconfigurable optical networks will introduce real-time bandwidth allocation, eliminating bottlenecks caused by outdated electrical processing systems.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Managing heat in photonic chips and developing universal industry standards for optical networks are key areas that require attention. The IOWN Global Forum is actively addressing these issues by creating scalable frameworks for global adoption. The key to success lies in a phased approach, ensuring that hybrid electronic-photonic networks are deployed efficiently, reducing costs while preparing for a fully optical future.
Communications service providers (CSPs) cannot afford to delay the transition to all-photonics networks. The explosion in data consumption is placing unprecedented pressure on network infrastructure. In 2022, the average mobile user in Europe consumed 15GB of data per month — a figure expected to surpass 75GB by 2030, driven by AI applications, cloud gaming, immersive media, and ultra-HD streaming.
What worked in the past will not be enough for the future. While minor delays may be acceptable when browsing the internet, they are unacceptable for autonomous vehicles, remote surgeries, and AI-powered automation. These applications demand real-time responsiveness, making photonics-based infrastructure a necessity. The question is not whether CSPs should transition to photonics, but how quickly they can make it happen to avoid falling behind.
As organisations across the globe adopt AI to remain competitive, balancing technological advancement with sustainability is a pressing challenge. APNs provide a solution by enabling remote processing in advanced, energy-efficient data centres powered by renewable energy. By shifting workloads away from outdated, high-consumption facilities, organisations can reduce carbon footprints, lower energy costs, and improve overall efficiency.
This shift aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that digital transformation progresses in an environmentally responsible manner. APNs will be central to this effort, fostering a new era of energy-efficient computing and resilient communications infrastructure.
Photonics in wireless communications
The IOWN Global Forum is actively developing proofs of concept (PoCs) to explore how APNs can enhance wireless communication networks. One major initiative focuses on mobile fronthaul over APNs, which has the potential to reduce power consumption compared to conventional Ethernet-based networks. The Forum is also pioneering multi-layer hibernation techniques to improve energy efficiency in O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network) environments.
According to the GSMA, 76% of a mobile network’s energy consumption occurs within the Radio Access Network (RAN). By enabling intelligent traffic steering and selectively powering down remote and distributed units during off-peak hours, APNs can reallocate optical network resources to other services, such as remote GPU processing, enhancing overall efficiency.
Beyond 5G RAN, APNs are also shaping the future of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. Some IOWN Global Forum members are actively developing roadside units (RSUs) that aggregate 5G PC5 traffic from vehicles and transfer high-volume data, including video images, to GPU-powered processing centres. These RSUs, connected via APNs, will enable faster and more accurate real-time vehicle communication, playing a crucial role in the development of smart transport systems and autonomous mobility.
The transition to all-photonics networks represents a fundamental shift in the way we build and operate digital infrastructure. From AI-driven applications and financial transactions to next-generation wireless networks, the advantages of APNs are undeniable. As industries and governments navigate the challenges of sustainability, scalability, and speed, photonics technology offers a clear path forward.
With data consumption skyrocketing and digital transformation accelerating, we must act now. By embracing all-photonics networks, we can pioneer a new era of connectivity, one that is faster, more sustainable, and built for the future. The question is no longer whether we should adopt photonics — it’s how quickly we can make it happen. n
