TRENDS AND CHALLENGES OF OPTICAL CONVERGED NETWORKS FOR SMART CITY AND INDUSTRY 5.0: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Abstract
This paper presents a systematic review of trends, enabling technologies, and key challenges in optical converged networks for smart city and Industry 5.0, based on studies published between 2023 and 2026. The analysis identifies major trends, including AI-native architectures, agentic generative artificial intelligence, digital twins, quantum-safe security, and optical–wireless (FiWi) convergence, indicating a shift toward intelligent and autonomous network infrastructures. It also highlights critical challenges related to latency, reliability, scalability, energy efficiency, security, and standardisation. The findings reveal a key research gap in the absence of a unified framework integrating these technologies. This review provides a foundation for future research on intelligent, scalable, and resilient optical converged networks.