I am glad to have been selected as an APAN59 Fellow. This is my first time attending APAN, and I am excited about the opportunity to connect with different people from diverse backgrounds. I was surprised that there is not only purely network content but also combines other domains to work.

APAN

I have heard that APAN is held in different cities every year, and this year, it is held in Yokohama, Japan. But this year, the weather is changing rapidly in Yokohama; we experience sunny days on the first day and snow and windy weather on the rest of the days.
APAN has a lot of working group such like cloud working group, Agriculture Working Group and AI Driven Working Group… etc. And there is also a lot of workshop during APAN, I have attended the entire BGP workshop for this time.

Cloud Working Group

I also have a presenting on Cloud Working Group this time, and I truly appreciate the Q&A experience during the Cloud WG session (also another session), it was not just a technical discussion but also a great opportunity for insightful exchanges and deeper exploration of the topic. A big thank to everyone who participated in that session! I look forward to more opportunities to discuss and explore exciting topics together in the future.

SIG: Network Engineering

This session left a deep impression on me. It introduced Polar Connect and the new Google Pacific Connect cable, both of which are groundbreaking infrastructure developments.

These new advancements in connectivity are truly exciting, as they represent significant progress in global network infrastructure. I was so fascinated by the session that I even shared the insights with my classmates simultaneously, eager to discuss the impact of these technologies.

IAM

I also attended the IAM session, where they discussed changes to eduroam’s authentication method. They are shifting to a six-month reauthentication cycle and implementing their own letwifi-portal solution, which has already been deployed in Malaysia.

What made this session particularly memorable for me was the thought of whether Taiwan’s eduroam administrators are aware of these developments. If they are, it would be fantastic news, as it could help improve Taiwan’s eduroam environment and enhance the overall user experience (but I think they don’t attend this time).

I learned?

While at APAN, I gained valuable insights into cutting-edge network technologies, including the current deployment strategies and topology of 400G in the U.S. and how Japan improves wireless authentication systems. Beyond the technical sessions, the interactions with speakers and participants enriched my brain, offering new perspectives and practical knowledge that I will carry forward in my master’s journey.

APAN is more than just a conference—it is a community of passionate individuals dealing with challenges and driving innovation in networking. Through participating in discussions, Q&A, and meaningful connections,  I am deeply grateful to the APAN Fellowship program for this opportunity, and I look forward to applying what I have learned in my work.

So, if you share the same interest for networking and technology, I highly recommand you to apply for the APAN Fellowship and become a part of this community.

Author: Chih Yuan Cheng, National Cheng Kung University