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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized the IEC TC86 and ITU-T SG15 Joint Workshop on “Standardization Roadmap for Cabled Multi-Core Fibre and Optical Network Sensing Technologies” in the afternoon of 17 October 2025 from 14h30 to 17h30 CEST at ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. This workshop was held in conjunction with the  ITU-T SG15 meeting taking place from 13-24 October 2025. Remote participation was provided for the workshop.​

In the coming decade, optical submarine systems are projected to demand data transmission capacities exceeding one petabit per cable. This surge is driven by a diverse array of data-intensive technologies and applications, ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to security solutions, autonomous driving innovations, telemedicine advancements, and beyond, all underscoring the critical role of distributed data center networks. To meet these evolving demands, groundbreaking optical network technologies such as space division multiplexing (SDM), massive parallelism architectures, reduced latency protocols, and other cutting-edge approaches are becoming necessary.

Recognizing this shift in technological requirements, new standardization efforts have commenced. Notably, March 2025 marked a pivotal milestone with ITU-T SG15 initiating official activities on multi-core fiber featuring standardized cladding diameters. Concurrently under investigation are international standards for optical network sensing across both submarine and terrestrial links; a promising frontier that holds transformative potential.

The workshop served as a platform to explore the future trajectory of these standardization initiatives while addressing emerging market trends shaping next-generation optical cabled fibers and network sensing technologies. By fostering collaboration among multiple standardization bodies worldwide, this event aimed not only to accelerate progress but also to lay the foundation for an effective global ecosystem capable of meeting tomorrow’s connectivity challenges head-on.

Participation in the workshop was open to ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates and Academic Institutions and to any individual from a country that is a member of ITU who wishes to contribute to the work. This includes individuals who are also members of international, regional and national organizations. Participation in the workshop was free of charge ​.