This paper presents a beyond 5G fronthaul network with dynamic beamforming and -steering. The proposed fronthaul solution deploys optical beamforming (OBF) by combining space division multiplexing (SDM), analogue radio-over-fiber (ARoF), and the novel optical beam forming network (OBFN) technologies. From the service management and orchestration (MANO) point of view, the proposed fronthaul solution also deploys an advanced software defined networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) control and orchestration architecture developed with the goal to optimally manage and reconfigure the physical layer resources (i.e., optical and radio) at the central office and cell sites (i.e., pool of baseband units (BBUs), remote radio heads (RRHs), ARoF transceivers and OBFNs). The proposed beyond 5G fronthaul architecture is primarily oriented to deploy massive machine-type communication (mMTC) services with high-bandwidth requirements, such as for industry 4.0. In this paper we experimentally validate the novel OBFN system, and the dynamic SDN/NFV MANO of the transport connectivity and network services for optical beamforming. The obtained experimental results show that the overall delay for the provisioning and removal of an OBF service, considering the contribution of the involved optical and radio systems and the SDN/NFV MANO layer, is 134 s and 18 s respectively. The reconfiguration of the OBF service to add or remove a beam can be performed in the range of 65-87 s.

Network operators are facing a critical issue on their optical transport networks to deploy 5G+ and IoT services. They need to address the capacity increase by a factor of 10, while keeping a similar cost per user. Over the last years, network operators are working on the optical disaggregated approach with great interest for achieving the required efficiency and cost reduction. In particular, partially disaggregated optical networks allows to decouple the transponders from the transport system (known as Open Line System) that are provided by different vendors. On the other hand, Spatial Division Multiplexing (SDM) has been proposed as the key technology to overcome the capacity crunch that the optical standard singlemode fibers are facing to support the forecasted 10x growth. Spatial core switching is gaining interest because it enables to deploy SDM networks to bypass the overloaded Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) networks, by provisioning spatial media channels between WDM nodes. This paper presents the first experimental demonstration of TAPI-enabled SDN control architecture for partially disaggregated multi-domain and multi-layer (WDM over SDM) optical networks.

This paper presents an experimental evaluation of network protocols for control and management of optical networks and optical network equipment as seen in current trends. This paper presents the YANG data modelling language and its associated RESTCONF/NETCONF protocols. Later, it details multiple data models used in optical networks, such as IETF TEAS, ONF Transport API, OpenROADM and Open-Config. It also presents multiple protocols for telemetry (i.e., YANG PUSH,gRPC and gNMI). Later, a zero touch SDN controller architecture for multiple Standard Defining Organizations (SDO) is presented, in order to support the usage of multiple protocols in a zero touch optical network. Finally, the presented protocols implementations are experimentally evaluated and compared in terms of latency and overhead. The paper explores the usage of these protocols (e.g., in research, demonstrations and open-Source optical networking projects) and provides results and recommendations for their integration in novel equipment and networks.

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