Ciena Showcases Game-Changing Technologies at Network X 2025

Ciena’s experts participate in speaking sessions and workshops on AI-driven networking and data center innovations

Mark Gibbon, Senior Consultant, Systems Solutions ArchitectureAt next week’s Network X 2025 taking place in Paris, Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) will showcase some of the company’s latest innovations that help service providers scale their businesses in an AI-driven era.

From October 14-16 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Ciena’s booth (#A12a) will feature technology demonstrations spanning the company’s routing and switching, optical systems, multi-layer network  control (Navigator NCS) and Blue Planet intelligent automation portfolio.

Demonstration Highlights:

• Programmable photonics: Showcasing highly instrumental, footprint-optimized ELS and RLS photonic line systems to address evolving requirements from edge to core.
• Optical transport: Featuring industry-leading coherent optical technologies across 6500 and Waveserver, such as 1.6 Tb/s optical encryption for quantum-safe communications and 800G coherent pluggable transceivers, alongside purpose-built, energy-efficient solutions for the edge and innovations for sustainable OTN network evolution.
• Routing and switching: Exploring Ciena’s latest innovations, including the DCOM chassis with ONU and console modules, WaveRouter WL6e, QSFP‑DD800 SSM modules, the high‑capacity 8114,  IP networking with EVPN and SRv6, plus a DCOM workshop and an interactive coherent routing presentation.
• Navigator NCS for AI-driven, multi-layer network operations: Demonstrating Ciena’s AIOps leadership and showing for customers how they’ll be able to operate their networks smarter and faster with AI, leveraging Navigator’s comprehensive visibility of performance metrics and service health, and Navigator’s converged multi-vendor management capabilities.
• Blue Planet: Highlighting Blue Planet’s AI Studio and Agentic AI Framework, communications service providers can rapidly build, operate, and scale AI agents using OSS-native tools and domain intelligence—all within a unified environment that spans the Blue Planet Intelligent Automation Portfolio. Attendees will also learn about Blue Planet’s cloud-native inventory with auto-discovery and reconciliation, intent-driven orchestration and AI-powered assurance capabilities.

Speaking Sessions:

• Wednesday, October 15, 11:45-12:00: Building networks for AI: connectivity opportunities for operators, featuring Ciena’s Mark Gibbon, Senior Consultant, Systems Solutions Architecture. AI continues to evolve and network operators are looking at ways not only to scale their networks to meet increasing demand for connectivity, but also how to monetize AI and make the most of their continued investment. This keynote will cover the latest in optical innovation for AI-ready networks, along with innovative business models for operators and AI monetization use cases.
• Wednesday, October 15, 14:40-15:20: Panel Discussion: Key investments so optical networks can meet network demands for AI and cloud, Ciena’s Dejan Bilbija joins the panel to discuss why optical networks are key to AI-driven infrastructure, how to balance performance and energy efficiency, and ultimately how networks can prepare for next-gen data transport demands.
• Wednesday, October 15, 12:15-13:35 (partner stage): Ciena Workshop: Revolutionizing Data Centers: PON Technology for Efficiency and Sustainability, featuring Ciena’s Furqan Haq, Principal, Product Line Management, and Wayne Hickey, Senior Advisor. Passive Optical Network (PON) technology can play a vital role in reducing the environmental and operational footprint within the data center through a reduction in data center space, power, and cabling, enabling optimal deployment of compute for AI application growth. This workshop will showcase how PON’s modular design, flexible capacity, shared infrastructure usage, and advanced telemetry can significantly reduce energy consumption and material usage in data center builds.
• Wednesday, October 15, 16:00-18:00 (partner stage): Broadband Forum BASe: How to Design and Build an AI-Ready Network, featuring Blue Planet’s Peter Briscoe, VP of Software Americas CSP. The industry's move towards network automation and intelligence hinges on fundamental shifts in infrastructure. The Broadband Forum provides a framework for vendors and service providers to drive the essential elements to enable an AI-ready broadband interoperable architecture, creating a migration path from legacy to SDN controlled through to an autonomous network. Blue Planet’s Peter Briscoe will join the workshop to share his views on what is required to obtain a truly agentic AI autonomous network.

About Ciena
Ciena is the global leader in high-speed connectivity. We build the world’s most adaptive networks to support exponential growth in bandwidth demand. By harnessing the power of our networking systems, components, 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 and  X, or visit the Ciena Insights webpage and Ciena website.

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