Self-Driving Data Highways: Realizing the Strategic Advantages of Autonomous IP Optical Networks at OFC26

In the telecom industry, leaders are under pressure to deliver more—more capacity, more agility, more reliability—while managing rising complexity with fewer resources. The network is the circulatory system of the modern telco, yet it’s still often operated like a patchwork of manual roads, each requiring constant human intervention.

This model worked when traffic was predictable and growth was linear. But today’s digital demands—AI workloads, cloud interconnects, edge computing, real‑time analytics—have turned this highway into a 24/7 rush hour.

Now imagine replacing that with a self‑driving highway:

• Roads (IP and optical layers) sense congestion and automatically open new lanes

• Traffic lights (routing and wavelength decisions) coordinate without human intervention

• If a road is blocked, vehicles instantly reroute through the fastest alternative

• The entire system learns from patterns and continuously optimizes itself

This is the promise of autonomous IP and optical networks—a network that independently detects, makes decisions, and acts on its own.

An Autonomous IP and Optical network requires three foundational capabilities:

1. A Scalable IP Routing & Optical Networking Foundation

The “roads” of the network (IP and optical layers) are moving from embedded optics to a “Pluggable World” according to Cignal AI’s latest report Coherent Optics: It’s a Pluggable World (1Q26). Pluggables represents 60% of the coherent optics market in 2026 and will move to 80% by 2030.  Ribbon will be showcasing our implementation of a fully pluggable DCI architecture in the 9408 at OFC26 which offers network operators flexibility for DCI from both client and line perspectives while delivering both power and capacity reach optimized alternatives.   

The optical “highway interchanges” of the network require advanced solutions to meet growing network demand for AI, and the Open Line System (OLS) is emerging as an essential network component. Ribbon will showcase the 9458 OLS, designed to deliver optimal density—supporting up to 8 degrees per 4RU rack unit and plans for expansion to 32 degrees. As network growth driven by AI increases, service providers are expected to reach C-band capacity limits; expanding into the L band is a practical solution. Ribbon’s dual-band ROADM allows operators to seamlessly increase capacity in the L band without a service disruption.

Finally, the cars (IP data flows) of the network need to know exactly where they need to go. To address this, Ribbon will display the NPT 2714, a next-generation IP aggregation router with an advanced, modular, centralized architecture, powered by an industry proven NOS, IP rNOS. Its innovative design provides investment protection with hitless upgrade from 7.2 to 14.4 TBs switching capacity, modular "Pay As You Grow" fan out and seamless introduction of new technology.

2. Real Time Visibility Across IP Routing & Optical Networking Layers 

The network must see everything—traffic patterns, optical performance, routing behavior—continuously and in context. 

Ribbon’s Muse Multi-Layer Automation Platform is designed for multilayer IP routing and optical networking solutions, equipping service providers with a comprehensive toolkit to efficiently shine a light into their networks. AI-powered agents are increasingly becoming integral resources for simplifying network queries and expediting troubleshooting. At OFC26, we will demonstrate the Muse AI-powered Agent, which enables network operators to access network information via natural language queries. This feature is particularly beneficial for non-technical personnel, such as sales and marketing teams, who require customer data from the network without needing to consult operations staff.

3. AI‑Driven Decisioning

Machine learning models analyze data, predict issues, and recommend or execute actions.

Ribbon will be demonstrating Acumen- which is a multi-vendor, multi-domain AIOps and Automation platform that sits on top of Muse but can provide a consistent set of capabilities across vendors & domains. 

The Bottom Line for Executives

Autonomous IP optical networks aren’t about replacing people—they’re about empowering organizations to operate at digital speed. They transform the network from a cost center into a strategic asset that:

• Accelerates innovation

• Improves customer experience

• Reduces operational risk

• Supports AI‑driven growth

In a world where digital performance is business performance, the service providers that adopt self‑driving networks will outpace those still relying on manual roads. Please visit the Ribbon booth 1258 at OFC26 to talk to our experts about paving your path to an autonomous network.