Dear colleagues,

After successful conference editions (for example Girona) https://icton2017.udg.edu/) and Bucharest last year, the ICTON 2018 conference will take place in Angers, which is in the heart of the region Pays de la Loire and easily reachable by the TGV fast train from Paris Charles de Gaulle international airport , Angers could be also reached from Nantes Atlantic airport.

Angers is awaiting for its visitors to visit its emblematic attractions: The Saint-Maurice cathedral, The Castle (Château d'Angers), The Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Angers, and many more. From Tuesday 09 to Saturday 13 July the ICTON 2019 will be the 21^st anniversary conference from ICTON series. The 21^st International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks ICTON 2019 will be kindly hosted by Université d'Angers, Angers, France, July 9 -13

We are looking forward to offer a warm welcome to all of you again for this new edition of the ICTON Conference, this time in Angers. An ambitious technical programme will be accompanied by an attractive set of social events to let you fully experience not only the city of Angers itself, but also some of the top highlights of the region of Pays de la Loire which is rich with cultural events particularly the selected period will coincide with celebration of Bastille Day which is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year so you will have unforgettable attraction. Moreover Angers was officially elected in September 2018, 1st city of France where life is good. This is the ranking of “L'Express magazine” that revealed the capital of Maine-et-Loire, Angers, as a leader for its quality of life in France according to very specific criteria.

https://www.my-angers.info/09/12/angers-1ere-ville-de-france-ou-il-fait-bon-vivre/74105.

You can also enjoy the attractions and cultural events around the River Loire - Loire Valley, and the temperate climate along the Loire river valley which is due to Atlantic influences and this provides the remarkably diverse range of wildlife and fauna which exist today. It also provides the ideal environment that has established France’s third largest wine region.

Bouchta SAHRAOUI,

General chair,

On behalf of the Organizing Committee.