Fujitsu aims to popularise APNs with new lab

Fujitsu is aiming to popularise open All-Photonics Networks (APNs) by opening a dedicated lab in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Scheduled to run from November 2024 to March 2025, the lab marks the first of its kind outside Japan. Fujitsu believes the lab will demonstrate its commitment to promoting the global expansion of the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) which consists of an APN, digital twin, and a cognitive foundation.

The lab will offer visitors a chance to experience the advantages of open APN technology first-hand, with a particular focus on its ease of operation and versatility. Network carriers, data centre operators, and vendors alike will have the opportunity to use the lab to verify APN functionality and test multi-vendor connectivity.

Open APNs are designed to facilitate the seamless connection of products and solutions from various vendors, while simultaneously providing high capacity, low latency, and significantly reduced power consumption.

“With the establishment of the Open APN Lab, the company will continue to promote the understanding of open APN technology and encourage the wider use of this low-power, high-capacity technology as part of its commitment to creating a sustainable society,” stated Fujitsu.

The choice of Düsseldorf is no accident. The city boasts a thriving telecoms scene and offers convenient access to Düsseldorf International Airport and numerous major European cities, making the Open APN Lab easily accessible to network carriers across Germany and the wider continent.

Positioned within the Fujitsu Technology Solutions building, the lab will provide companies with hands-on experience using Fujitsu-developed APNs, allowing them to witness the benefits first-hand. The lab will also offer insights into potential future network services by showcasing real-world APN use cases.

The establishment of the Open APN Lab forms part of a broader contract awarded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) to conduct field trials exploring the feasibility of deploying APNs across Europe. 

Looking ahead, Fujitsu plans to conduct further field trials following the lab’s closure in March 2025, with ambitions to expand its APN lab footprint to other global locations, including North America.

(Image Credit: Fujitsu)

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Tags: all-photonics networks, apn, apn lab, connectivity, digital twin, europe, fujitsu, germany, infrastructure, iown, Networks