Demos and speaking sessions show ways to improve network performance for data center connectivity and AI-driven IP transport architectures

Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) will spotlight some of the company’s latest innovations designed to improve data center connectivity, IP transport, and AI operations in booth #103 at Upperside World Congress 2026, taking place March 24-26 at the Palais des Congrès de Paris. Show attendees will learn how Ciena’s AI-ready IP networking solutions enable AI connectivity and monetization. Guided by AI-enabling applications, technologies, and operations, Ciena delivers to service providers, enterprises, and neoscalers the building blocks to simplify their AI journey and monetize network infrastructure.

Demonstrations

  • Coherent Routing – innovative IP/optical convergence solutions for data center and AI connectivity
  • Advanced routing for AI-driven growth – segment routing and EVPN advancements powered by Ciena’s Service-Aware Operating System (SAOS) and agentic AI
  • AI-driven multi-layer operations – smart multi-layer network control, using an easy-to-use AI Assistant and robust agentic AI framework, to optimize network troubleshooting, efficiency, and performance
  • Blue Planet AI Capabilities – an intent-based automation architecture that senses, reasons, and acts across domains for self-optimized operations; digital twin that autonomously assures IP networks with AI agents that can predict issues, assess service impact, and optimize performance; and an OSS-native, low code environment empowering customers and partners to create AI agents with access to prebuilt tools, data, APIs, and a library of AI agents to accelerate adoption

Keynote Session

Tim Pearson, VP, Product Line Management, will deliver a keynote address on AI Inside Service Provider Networks on Tuesday, March 24 at 11:45 a.m. CET

Additional Speaking Highlights

Tuesday, March 24

  • 3:45 p.m. CET – Rafael Francis, Senior Director, Product Line Management, will present during the “AI-ready approaches to data center connectivity” session

Wednesday, March 25

  • 9:45 a.m. CET – Juan Luis Esteban, Head of Agentic AI, Product Line Management, will speak in the “From break-fix to self-heal: Agentic routing for AI workloads” session
  • 11:05 a.m. CET – Farzam Toudeh-Fallah, Director, Quantum Communications R&D, will present during the “Quantum-safe network infrastructure: National testbeds and deployment strategies” panel
  • 3:15 p.m. CET – Jahanzeb Baqai, Director, Product Line Management, will speak in the “Advancing segment routing: New use cases, new value” session
  • 5:15 p.m. CET – Jan Straznicky, Senior Director, Product Line Management, will speak in the “Real-world progress and emerging use cases in IP/Optical convergence” session
  • 6:15 p.m. CET – Reza Rokui, Senior Director, SDN Application Architecture, will present during the “Dynamic agentic AI workflows for IP/Optical operations” session

Thursday, March 26

  • 10:15 a.m. CET – Bill Kaufmann, Director, Product Line Management, will speak during the “From SNMP to YANG: Accelerating network analytics development with push messaging” session
  • 11:30 a.m. CET – Farzam Toudeh-Fallah, Director, Quantum Communications R&D, will speak during the “Toward establishing ultra-long-haul quantum-secured optical channels” session

Ciena’s subject matter experts will take part in multiple speaking sessions and panel discussions during the conference. See full agenda here. For more information about Ciena’s participation at Upperside World Congress or to schedule a meeting, visit this link or contact pr@ciena.com.

About Ciena
Ciena is the global leader in high-speed connectivity. We build the world’s most advanced networks to support exponential growth in bandwidth demand. By harnessing the power of our networking systems, interconnects, automation software, and services, Ciena revolutionizes data transmission and network management. With unparalleled expertise and innovation, we empower our customers, partners, and communities to thrive in the AI era. For updates on Ciena, follow us on LinkedIn, or visit the Ciena Insights webpage and Ciena website.

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