The primary goal of this journal is to publish high-quality, peer-reviewed papers focussing on research activities, major achievements, and trends involving optical communication networks. Photonic Network Communications: Topics of interest include, but not limited to: NETWORK AND SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES Transport, access, and customer premises networks; Local, regional, and global networks; 100G/400G Networks; Elastic Optical Networks; Optical Wireless Networks; Visible light communications; Free space optics; Transoceanic and undersea networks; Optical transparent networks; WDM and OTDM networks; Subcarrier and code-division-multiplexed networks; Space division multiplexing (SDM) technologies; Direct-detection and coherent-detection optical systems; Soliton-based networks; Wavelength routed networks; Optical packet-switched networks; Passive optical networks (PON) including FTTx networks;; Digital and optical signal processing; Optical Devices for Switching and Interconnects; Energy- and Power-Efficient Component and System Design; Photonic networks in space NETWORK AND SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES Network architectures and topologies Cloud and Data-Center Networking based on Optical Networks Architecture and design of network nodes High-performance optical LANs Optical crossconnects and add/drop multiplexers Design and architecture of interconnection networks Waveguide and free-space interconnection networks Network-on-Chip (NoC) based on Optical Networks Optical interfaces and optical terminals Storage Area Networks based on Optical Communications and Networking Security and Privacy in Optical Communications and Networking Silicon Photonics and Integrated Photonics Universal photonic infrastructures NETWORK CONTROL Software Defined Networks Network Virtualization Network Function Virtualization Network access protocols Optical quality-of-service admission control Signaling and connection set-up protocols Routing and wavelength assignment algorithms, including impairment-aware Network reconfiguration and restoration techniques Photonic-based end-to-end communication protocols Network and traffic control NETWORK DESIGN, PLANNING, AND OPERATION System and network performance modeling Scalability, cascadability, upgradeability Network operation, maintenance, and management Measurement, monitoring, and supervision techniques Network planning and design Field trials and experiments Standardization INTERWORKING WITH OTHER NETWORKS Cascaded heterogeneous photonic networks Interoperability and interworking with other networks Integration with mobile communication networks.