Symposium on International Optoelectronics Association: A forum for international cooperation in optical fibre communications and related technologies

Optical fibre communications is a global business. Communications architectures, systems and components are made all over the world, and are being used to build the internet which is an international enterprise. Competition, whether in research, development or commercial exploitation, is also international. Networking on an international scale is a necessity to stay synchronized with key market developments and roadmaps for the future. The International Optoelectronics Association is a grouping of 10 photonics industry associations located in Asia, North America and Europe, forming a platform for international cooperation. These are: Canadian Photonics Consortium, EPIC, KAPID, OIDA, OITDA, Optech-Net Deutschland, PIDA, SOA, and SwissLaserNet. The IOA is responding to the globalization of the internet by coordinating its roadmapping activities to give a comprehensive overview of photonic technology developments in key areas: optical communications, displays, solid-state lighting, photovoltaics, lasers and sensors. In this symposium, IOA member organizations will present an overview of broadband internet and fibre-to-the-home.