ETSI Blog

Driving the Optical Networks towards Higher Autonomous Network Levels

2025-06-24 Posted by Steven Hill, MTN Group, ETSI GR F5G 019 Rapporteur 46 Hits

In April 2025, ETSI published a new Group Report (GR), ETSI GR F5G 019 (Fifth Generation Fixed Network (F5G); Fixed Network Autonomous Network level definition and evaluation), which was developed in the ETSI ISG F5G.

This document provides an evaluation basis for measuring the Autonomous Network levels (from L0 to L5) of a Fixed Network (including Optical Transport Network and the Access and Residential Networks) along with its components and workflows, and defines the evaluation methodology to score the level of a specific system in a Fixed Network.

ETSI F5G/OSL/TFS Joint Session: Building Intelligent End-to-End F5G-A Networks

2025-06-16 Posted by Raul Muñoz, CTTC, ISG F5G contributor 74 Hits

In the week of May 19th ~ 23rd 2025, global industry and academic experts in the area of optical communication gathered in Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain to discuss F5G-Advanced network architecture and future roadmap to F6G, and identify potential open-source implementation driven by TFS and OSL to develop PoCs of the F5G-Advanced architectures. The groups involved were ETSI SDG OSL (Software Development Group OpenSlice), SDG TFS (Software Development Group TeraFlowSDN) and ISG F5G. CTTC hosted all these meetings in its headquarters.

During this week, an open joint session between SDG OSL, SDG TFS and ISG F5G was held for the first time. The intelligent network management & control and the automatic service provisioning of the F5G Advanced networks, which contain multiple fixed network segments, becomes the common interests of these three groups.

ETSI F5G OSL TFS Joint Session Figure1

F5G Advanced Premium Cloud Immersive Services showcased at MWC’25

2025-04-15 Posted by Lluis Gifre Renom (CTTC) ISG F5G contributor 439 Hits

At the Mobile World Congress 2025, the Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC) and Huawei Technologies showcased a cutting-edge Proof of Concept (PoC) focused on the development of a standards-based and open-source Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform. This initiative aligns with specifications from key standards organizations such as ETSI, IETF, and CAMARA, and is built upon open-source components including ETSI TeraFlowSDN (TFS) and ETSI Open Source MANO (OSM). The proposed solution highlights the capabilities of the ETSI Industrial Specification Group (ISG) Fifth Generation Fixed (F5G) Network. This demonstration introduced a set of technical Fixed 5G technology enhancements focused on end-to-end service delivery and network automation, using an immersive Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Gaming Service for Remote Players as a practical application of the F5G Advanced (F5G-A) architecture. The platform demonstrated end-to-end QoD capabilities, incorporating application-flow classification and differentiation. To support this, the setup was expanded to include a dedicated IP transport network for best-effort traffic, operating alongside the fine-grain Optical Transport Network (fgOTN), which was used for traffic requiring guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS). This allowed the system to differentiate between traffic types and manage them accordingly.

F5G Advanced Premium Cloud Immersive Services showcased at MWC25 1

ISG F5G Poster Showcase @ ITU-ETSI Symposium on ICT Sustainability: F5G-A Energy Efficiency Management

2025-01-28 Posted by Raul Muñoz, CTTC, ISG F5G contributor 576 Hits

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) jointly organized the "ITU-ETSI Symposium on ICT Sustainability: Standards Driving Environmental Innovation", held on 11–12 December 2024 at ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It brought together industry leaders, policymakers, researchers and stakeholders to explore the crucial role of standards in promoting sustainable ICT practices. Standards guide the development of technologies that minimize environmental impact and enhance energy efficiency.

Optical Networking Moving into Industrial Environments

2025-01-24 Posted by Jialiang Jin, Vice-Chair of ETSI ISG F5G 576 Hits

The ETSI Industry Specification Group (ISG) on Fifth Generation Fixed Network (F5G) releases the specification titled "Fifth Generation Fixed Network (F5G); Specification for PON based Industrial Network".

Passive Optical Network (PON) is the dominant access network technology for operators all around the world and has been widely deployed in public access networks. It has the advantages of large bandwidth, low deployment cost, uses passive optical distribution network, carrier-grade quality and smart operation and maintenance capabilities.

Workshop on "Evolution of Optical Network Generations: Technologies and Standards" in Jingdezhen, China

2025-01-13 Posted by Yi Lin, ISG F5G Technical Manager 592 Hits

In the week of November 12th to 15th 2024, both the 20th ETSI ISG F5G Plenary meeting and CCSA TC6 WG2 plenary meeting were held, co-located in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China.

On November 13th 2024 during the two meetings, a workshop on "Evolution of Optical Network Generations: Technologies and Standards" was held. Six experts from both ISG F5G and CCSA TC6 WG2 shared the latest progress of technologies and standards development of optical networks. A panel discussion was held over the topics of future technologies and standard cooperation to promote the next generation of optical networks. The panellists include:

  • Dr. Dechao Zhang, CCSA TC6 WG2 Vice Chair, China Mobile
  • Dr. Olivier Ferveur, ETSI ISG F5G Chair, POST Luxembourg
  • Dr. Jialiang Jin, ETSI ISG F5G Vice Chair, China Telecom
  • Mr. Hai Ding, Network innovative product expert from China Unicom
  • Ms. Qian Liu, ETSI ISG F5G TEST WG Chair, CAICT
  • Dr. Raul Muñoz, Research Director, CTTC
  • Dr. Marcus Brunner (Moderator), ETSI ISG F5G Vice Chair, Huawei

Evolution of Optical Network Generations1

Network X ISG F5G Workshop: F5G-A from Standards to Commercial Deployment

2024-11-04 Posted by Yi Lin, ISG F5G Technical Manager 621 Hits

Network X 2024 took place from October 8th to 10th at the international conference centre, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in France. ETSI, a partner of Network X, hosted the "Partner Workshop with ETSI ISG F5G" on the first day of Network X.

This workshop focused on F5G-Advanced initiatives, highlighting the latest developments and progress. It provided the participants with the status norms and the achievement made in F5G-Advanced, which will help to evolve fixed networks.

ISG F5G Workshop Network X

In picture are the five speakers who shared their F5G-Advanced viewpoints, plus the moderator. From left to right we have:

  • Dr. Philippe Chanclou, Team Manager of Fixed Access Networks, Orange
  • Dr. Olivier Ferveur, ETSI ISG F5G Chair, Post Luxembourg
  • Dr. Behnam Shariati, Deputy Head of Group Data Analytics and Signal Processing, Fraunhofer HHI
  • Dr. Diego Lopez, ETSI ISG ZSM Chair, Senior Technology Expert, Telefonica
  • Mr. Riku Päärni, CTO, Lounea
  • Dr. Marcus Brunner (moderator), ETSI ISG F5G Vice Chair, Chief Expert Standardization, Huawei

ETSI ZSM/F5G Joint Session: Starting the ISG Cooperation on Intelligent Optical Network

2024-10-03 Posted by Yi Lin, ISG F5G Technical Manager 800 Hits

The 19th ETSI ISG F5G Plenary meeting was held in Sophia-Antipolis, France from August 27th to 30th 2024. As part of the Plenary meeting, an open session between ISG ZSM and ISG F5G was held. This is the first time these two ISGs have met together.

The ISG ZSM works on defining technical-agnostic end-to-end network and service management and operation framework and key technologies, which enables autonomous and future network. It is the goal of ISG F5G to apply the ZSM framework and its key enabling technologies, such as intent-based networking, Network Digital-Twin (NDT) and closed-loop automation, in the intelligent management and control of the F5G-A optical network.

Proof of concept "Cloud-based control of automated guided vehicles (AGV) and robots" finalized

2024-10-02 Posted by Sergii Shykin, ISG F5G Secretary (Huawei) 1135 Hits

Modern production facilities have to support on demand product customization to satisfy customer needs. One key technology to make this happen are Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). These are mobile transport robots, which distribute raw materials and parts on the factory shop floor and potentially among different manufacturing halls and warehouses. The navigation of the AGVs on the factory shop floor or in outdoor areas is a computationally complex task requiring significant computing resources. Cloud-based AGV navigation enables cooperation and centralized information exchange between multiple robots and AGVs.

As the number and variation of AGVs within a production facility site increases, so does the complexity of their control, for guaranteeing a seamless and orchestrated operation.

Cloud based control of automated guided vehicles AGV and robots1

Figure 1

F5G - A Use Case Release 4: Driving the evolution of F5G-A

2024-09-23 Posted by Yue Sun, Rapporteur of a Work Item 893 Hits

In the ISG F5G F2F#19 plenary meeting held in Sophia-Antipolis, France from August 27th to 30th 2024, the creation of a new Work Item (WI) for F5G-A Use Cases Release 4 was agreed. The new work item is proposed by China Unicom and has eight supporting organizations including Orange, China Telecommunications, ZTE Corporation, CTTC, Huawei Technologies France, CAICT, POST Luxembourg and CICT. Mr. Yue Sun from China Unicom is the Rapporteur of this WI.

Global SDOs collaborate to advance FTTR: Highlights from Fourth Joint Workshop of ETSI ISG F5G, BBF, CCSA TC6 and ITU-T SG15

2024-08-01 Posted by Yi Lin, ISG F5G Technical Manager 1688 Hits

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) together with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute – Industry Specification Group -Fifth Generation Fixed Network (ETSI ISG F5G), the Broadband Forum (BBF), and the China Communications Standards Association – Technical Committee 6 (CCSA TC6) organized the Fourth Joint ETSI ISG F5G, BBF, CCSA TC6 and ITU-T SG15 Workshop on "FTTR" (Fibre to the room), which took place 10 July 2024 from 8:00-12:00 (EDT)/14h00 to 18h00 (CEST) in Montreal, Canada.

The use case of on-premises fibre networks, such as FTTR, was firstly described in ETSI GR F5G 002 by the ISG F5G early in 2020. Since then, the related standards have been rapidly developed by several Standard Development Organisations (SDOs). The workshop intend was to offer the opportunity to continue the discussion on FTTR and other on-premises fibre networks for all the involved stakeholders, to reach a better common understanding of the use cases, the requirements, the deployment challenges, and the best practices. This workshop facilitates the development of an FTTR standard and the cooperation of multiple SDOs, as well as the system deployment by the network operators.

Fourth joint FTTR Workshop with logos

F5G Advanced Use Cases Driving the Optical Network Technology development

2024-07-05 Posted by Marcus Brunner, Vice-Chair of ETSI ISG F5G 2295 Hits

ETSI GR F5G 020, F5G Advanced Use Cases; Release 3 is publishing use cases to be enabled by the F5G Advanced (F5G-A) network. The use cases in that document include services and applications for residential customer, enterprises, vertical industries, network operation optimizations, and evolved fixed end-to-end infrastructure, which were not supported by the F5G network. Use cases will aim to introduce new technical requirements for the F5G Advance network along various characteristic dimensions. The use cases will be used as input to drive the technology development and standardization of new features for F5G Advanced based on the technical requirements derived from those use cases.

Fourth Joint ETSI ISG F5G, BBF, CCSA TC6 and ITU-T SG15 Workshop on "FTTR" (Fibre to the room)

2024-06-25 Posted by Yan Zeng, HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES Co. Ltd 3029 Hits

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) together with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute – Industry Specification Group -Fifth Generation Fixed Network (ETSI ISG F5G), the Broadband Forum (BBF), and the China Communications Standards Association – Technical Committee 6 (CCSA TC6) are organizing the Fourth Joint ETSI ISG F5G, BBF, CCSA TC6 and ITU-T SG15 Workshop on "FTTR" (Fibre to the room), which will take place 10 July 2024 from 8:00‑12:00 (EDT)/14h00 to 18h00 (CEST) in Montreal, Canada. This is an in-person event with remote participation.

ITU Webinars Workshop on FTTR

Proof of Concept “Visual Inspection for automatic quality assessment”

2024-04-12 Posted by Sergii Shykin, ISG F5G Secretary (Huawei) 5047 Hits

The development of the proof of concept "Visual inspection for automatic quality assessment PoC" started in May 2023 and was successfully finished in November 2023. Several goals have been set:

  • implementation of a PON based industrial Edge/Cloud-based; and
  • visual inspection for quality assessment of products and to demonstrate a low-latency ML‑based video processing-pipeline for end-to-end manufacturing control loop.

PROOF OF CONCEPT Fig0

Revolutionary F5G-based VR Gaming Service at Mobile World Congress 2024

2024-03-25 Posted by Lluis Gifre Renom (CTTC) ISG F5G contributor 5773 Hits

At the Mobile World Congress 2024, the Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC) and Huawei Technologies introduced a groundbreaking Proof of Concept (PoC) that underscores the capabilities of the ETSI Industrial Specification Group (ISG) Fifth Generation Fixed Network (F5G). This demonstration exemplified a significant leap in Fixed 5G technology, using a Virtual Reality (VR) Gaming Service for Remote Players as a practical application of the F5G Advanced (F5G-A) architecture. The F5G-A architecture exploits the optical network capacities to provide high quality transmission with ultra-low end-to-end latency, high bandwidth guarantees, and minimized jitter to ensure the Quality of Experience (QoE) for cloud-based services. This architecture promises to reshape a myriad of high-demand digital services, offering unparalleled connectivity and intelligent End-to-End (E2E) service management.

CAMARA F5G A Optical Network

Driving F5G Advanced ahead

2024-03-11 Posted by Yi Lin, ISG F5G Technical Manager 5258 Hits

On February 20th ~ 23rd 2024, the ETSI ISG F5G #17th Plenary meeting was held in Sophia Antipolis, France. This is the first plenary meeting of the ISG F5G third term.

In the meeting, the election of F5G Chair and Vice-Chairs for the third term was held. Dr. Olivier Ferveur from POST Luxembourg was appointed the ISG F5G Chair effective immediately. Dr. Marcus Brunner from Huawei Technologies (UK) Co., Ltd. and Dr. Jialiang Jin from China Telecom were appointed the Vice-Chairs (the mandates of F5G Vice-Chairs will start on 17th April 2024).

ETSI HELD A WEBINAR ON "HOW CAN ALL-OPTICAL NETWORKS CONTRIBUTE TO CARBON TRANSITION?"

2024-01-29 Posted by Yi Lin, ISG F5G Technical Manager 5182 Hits

On January 23rd 2024, an ETSI webinar "How can all-optical networks contribute to carbon transition?", was presented by ETSI ISG F5G, to disseminate the ETSI White Paper "All-optical network facilitates the Carbon Shift" published in November 2023.

Green all optical network

This White Paper was developed by ISG F5G to provides an overview of an all-optical network and the recent developments in optical technologies, and highlights the role of all-optical networks as a key ICT enabler to meet the UN sustainability goals.

In this webinar, there were four speakers, that included the co-editors / contributors of the White Paper, who shared their viewpoints on green all-optical networks:

  • Mr. Jean-Luc Lemmens, Co-Editor, CEO IDATE
  • Dr. Olivier Ferveur, F5G Acting-Chair ISG F5G, Post Luxembourg
  • Dr. Xiangkun Man, Co-Editor, China Unicom
  • Dr. Marcus Brunner, Liaison Officer in ISG F5G, Huawei

ETSI RELEASED THE F5G ADVANCED GENERATION DEFINITION, PROMOTING THE EVOLUTION OF F5G

2023-12-14 Posted by Yi Lin, ISG F5G Technical Manager 6147 Hits

On November 30th 2023, an important ETSI ISG F5G Group Report was released. The title of the report is “Fifth Generation Fixed Network (F5G); F5G Advanced Generation Definition” [ETSI GR F5G 021]. This is the first report for the F5G Advanced generation in Release 3. The publication of the ETSI GR F5G 021 is a significant milestone for ISG F5G, which is steadily evolving from F5G to F5G Advanced.

Six dimensions of F5G Small

Six dimensions of F5G Advanced with enabling technologies characteristics