We are pleased to introduce to our readers the following Special Issue (SI) on Next-Generation Optical Access networks to support Super-Broadband Services and 5G/6G Mobile Networks in IEEE Network. In recent years, optical access networks have been playing a growing role in mobile networks and will become even more prominent with 5G/6G due to the demand for extreme bandwidth, coverage, synchronization, and low latency. The success of future mobile networks will not just be about new radio access technologies. The deployment of future wireless technologies will be dependent on the ability of optical access networks to seamlessly connect to radio access networks (RANs) and edge/cloud computing resources. Many technologies are currently being developed for optical networks for convergence and access to increase throughput, improve energy efficiency, and simplify network design, deployment, and operation. This SI is intended to provide recent advances in optical networking technologies, concentrating on optical access networks and the convergence of integrated fiber and wireless access technologies.

中文翻译：

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特邀社论：支持超宽带业务和 5G/6G 移动网络的下一代光接入网络

我们很高兴向我们的读者介绍以下关于下一代光接入网络的特刊 (SI)，以支持 IEEE 网络中的超宽带服务和 5G/6G 移动网络。近年来，光接入网络在移动网络中的作用越来越大，由于对极高带宽、覆盖范围、同步和低延迟的需求，随着 5G/6G 的发展，光接入网络将变得更加突出。未来移动网络的成功不仅仅在于新的无线接入技术。未来无线技术的部署将取决于光接入网络与无线接入网络 (RAN) 和边缘/云计算资源无缝连接的能力。目前正在开发许多技术用于光网络的融合和接入，以增加吞吐量、提高能源效率、并简化网络设计、部署和运营。该 SI 旨在提供光网络技术的最新进展，重点关注光接入网络以及集成光纤和无线接入技术的融合。