Abstract
Worldwide research on space division multiplexing (SDM) technology has been conducted intensively
since 2010. Recently, the commercialization of a multi-core fiber (MCF) and the deployment of MCF
into a new optical submarine system were announced. These initiatives provide a strong push for the future
deployment of SDM transmission technology. However, the international standardization of new
SDM technology is mandatory before an SDM ecosystem can be established to achieve the smooth deployment
of the SDM transmission system, particularly in the terrestrial network. In this paper, we review
the status of a standardization activity for an SDM optical fiber in the international telecommunication
union, telecommunication standardization sector (ITU-T). We also provide a personal perspective on
how to develop a new standard for weakly coupled MCF (WC-MCF) that ensures interoperability. We
show that well planned and harmonized standardization activity is required for achieving the SDM ecosystem
in a terrestrial network by 2030.
