Introduction to the ONDM2020 special issue

This JOCN special issue includes extended versions of selected papers that were presented at the 24th International Conference on Optical Network Design and Modeling (ONDM2020), which took place virtually on May 18–21, 2020. The topics covered by the papers represent clear trends in current optical networking research including filterless optical networks and their applicability in metropolitan scenarios; programmable, software-defined-networking-enabled sliceable bandwidth variable transceivers supporting multi-dimensionality; and two applications of machine learning—the cognitive reconfiguration of data-center networks in support of high-performance computing, and quality of transmission estimation for reduced margins.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version