The Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC 2021) has been put back slightly in next year’s calendar and will now take place from 6 -10, June.
The event will still be held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The organisers state that the rescheduling of its dates was decided in order to ensure a successful conference and exhibition experience for all participants, while also taking into consideration the health and wellbeing of all participants and attendees.
Following the success of the format this year, OFC 2021 will blend an in-person and virtual format to provide attendees the greatest opportunity to reach customers, reconnect with their peers and demonstrate new product developments. The plenary conference programme will include live onsite presentations from three distinguished speakers on the latest research and applications in optical fibre communication.
The technical programme, meanwhile, is designed to continue to explore the latest in optical communications innovation, data-centre connectivity, machine learning/artificial intelligence (AI), applications of optical networks in 5G and cloud computing. The new abstract and summary submission deadline is 26 January.
The organisers reassure that stringent health and safety measures will be implemented at the Moscone Center and all associated properties.
OFC 2021 steering committee chair, Seb Savory explained: ‘Since the 2020 conference and exhibition occurred, OFC’s co-sponsors, steering committee and program chairs have been meeting regularly to ascertain the likely impact of the current pandemic on the event. After careful consideration, having consulted various stakeholders, it became clear that the best solution at this point in time, was to shift the timing of OFC, from March to June. By moving the event to these new dates, we not only increase the likelihood that we will be able meet together in person and so able to enjoy both the usual onsite programming and exhibits, but it also better aligns the timing of OFC with other major conferences that have shifted their timing in response to the pandemic.’
The traditional OFC conference schedule is due to resume in March 2022, when the event returns to San Diego.
