Future Scenarios for Software-Defined Metro and Access Networks and Software-Defined Photonics

Abstract

Abstract:In recent years, architectures, devices, and components in telecommunication networks have been challenged by evolutionary and revolutionary factors which are drastically changing the traffic features. Most of these changes imply the need for major re-configurability and programmability not only in data-centers and core networks, but also in the metro-access segment. In a wide variety of contexts, this necessity has been addressed by the proposed introduction of the innovative paradigm of software-defined networks (SDNs). Several solutions inspired by the SDN model have been recently proposed also for metro and access networks, where the adoption of a new generation of software-defined reconfigurable integrated photonic devices is highly desirable. In this paper, we review the possible future application scenarios for software-defined metro and access networks and software-defined photonics (SDP), on the base of analytics, statistics, and surveys. This work describes the reasons underpinning the presented radical change of paradigm and summarizes the most significant solutions proposed in literature, with a specific emphasis to physical-layer reconfigurable networks and a focus on both architectures and devices.

5G RAN architecture based on analog radio-over-fiber fronthaul over UDWDM-PON and phased array fed reflector antennas

“…Combining analog radio over fiber (ARoF) fronthaul with flexible carrier aggregation allows optimum resource utilization. The resource management and allocation within the network are offered by a virtual orchestrator based on a centralized control plane defined by software defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) [19]. The centralization of the RANs leads to a more flexible routing as well as it allows the reduction of the complexity within the ONUs increasing control and minimizing the communications latency [20,21].…”

Proposal for an SDN-Like Innovative Metro-Access Optical Network Architecture

“…Most of these solutions have been reviewed in a recent paper [2], even if they are not fully compliant to the Open Networking Foundation standards and definitions. Some of these proposals are focused on higher-layer reconfigurability: firstly Parol and Pawlowski in 2013 [3] and then Amokrane et al in 2014 [4] proposed the introduction of the Open Networking Foundation SDN paradigm in the access segment, called software-defined edge network [4]; Yang et al have proposed a software-defined access optical network architecture based on OpenFlow-enabled passive optical network in order to ensure remote unified control and serviceaware flow scheduling [5].…”

“…Secondly, the SDN approach would allow enhancing the performance in terms of lower congestion probability and higher quality of service (QoS). It would allow also the reduction of operational expenditures (OpEx) and total cost of ownership as well as the enabling of new business models, e.g., network as a service and bandwidth on-demand [2,10].…”

Logical Network Mapping With Content Connectivity Against Multiple Link Failures in Optical Metro Networks

“…With increasing demand for high-bandwidth and lowlatency services, the metro network segment is gaining more importance and functionalities. Several, especially cloud, services are now hosted directly in data centers located in the metro areas so that, in today's telecom networks, 75% of total traffic is terminated within the metro area [1]. Reliability in metro access networks is emerging as a stringent requirement and its importance is expected to increase with adoption of ultra-reliable low latency services in 5G communications.…”

“…Also, networks are becoming more content centric. Globally, 72% of all Internet traffic will cross Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) by 2022, scaling up from 56% in 2017 [1]. Thus, several content-based services can be provided if a content replica is available in all disconnected network portions.…”