Guest Editorial: Multi-Band Optical Networks

The papers in this special section focus on multi-band optical networks. introduce the key challenges, trends, and innovations. Current deployed networks are reaching saturation of their capacity with continuous bandwidth demand increase. However, installation new infrastructures or fibers requires high investments from network operators. Thus, alternative solutions to cope enormous needed. Currently, single-mode (SMF) mainly used C band, where SMFs present minimum attenuation. exploitation other bands (e.g., L, S, E O) may be an effective solution for upgrade while postponing fibers. As L-band technologies widely today, there is a rising interest considering S E) following years scale capacity. Multi-band (MB) networking therefore feasible that many currently G.652.D fibers) do not absorption peak (occurring band).