By popular demand (really), the deadline to submit entries to the 2021 Lightwave Innovation Reviews has been extended to 11:59 PM EST January 8, 2021. This is the only extension planned.

The Lightwave Innovation Reviews recognizes excellence in a product or technology applicable to optical networks. Information on the Reviews, including how to submit an entry, can be found at the Lightwave Innovation Reviews portal.

Now in its seventh year, the Lightwave Innovation Reviews accepts entries that describe products either introduced or significantly upgraded since OFC 2020 this past March. A panel of judges will evaluate submitted entries for originality, innovation, positive impact on the customer, how well it addresses a new or existing requirement, and cost-effectiveness. The judges will then rate each entry on a scale of one to five, with five recognizing an entry that brings something unique to optical communications.

Entries that receive an average score of at least 3.5 will be honored as Elite Score recipients. Lightwave will reveal details of these Elite Score entries in March 2020.

Lightwave plans to announce honorees in the following 12 categories:

1. Carrier Fiber, Cable, Enclosures, and Accessories
2. Communications Semiconductors and Electrical ICs
3. Data Center Fiber, Cable, Enclosures and Accessories
4. Data Center Interconnect Platforms
5. Field Test Equipment
6. FTTx Systems
7. Lab/Production Test Equipment
8. Optical Components
9. Optical Subsystems
10. Optical Transceivers and Transponders
11. Optical Transport Systems
12. SDN/NFV Technology.

The judging panel consists of optical communications technology developers, users, and market analysts with years of experience in specifying, designing, and evaluating fiber-optic communications technology independent of the Lightwave staff. Stephen Hardy, editorial director of Lightwave, will serve as program manager this year. Questions about the Lightwave Innovation Reviews can be addressed to Hardy.