This report examines the development trends of optical networks under the dual drivers of high-speed communications and AI applications, covering technology evolution, application scenarios, and shifts in the global industry chain. Evolving towards the 2030 optical communications network system and architecture is a key issue facing the optical communications industry and requires viable technical options for building future-oriented and novel optical communications network systems. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the key trends shaping the future of optical communications. The rise and then rapid developments of various nascent technologies, encompassing notably Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been heralding a new era of connectivity, spanning from people, things, to ultimately intelligence.
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