Optical Technology for NFV Converged Networks

5G and its evolution towards 6G is unlocking new use cases that will require the reconsideration of existing network architectures operation. As be required to support service types radio protocol splits, traditional physical point connections need replaced with a transport up antenna site guarantee low latency services high bandwidth. Optical based key enabler realize such convergent network, where fixed infrastructure in for mobile should also enterprises services. The Software Defined Network (SDN) Function Virtualization (NFV) technology plays role evolve digitalization. It allows simplify creation implement real decoupling between functions run virtually, on generic processing units located everywhere network. Supporting automation requirement optical not able meet. In this paper reference scenarios access are presented analysis their requirements enabling solutions integrated silicon photonics.