Spectrum/Space Switching and Multi-Terabit Transmission in Agile Optical Metro Networks

Abstract

An SDN-enabled modular photonic system architecture, including VCSEL-based bandwidth/bitrate variable transceivers, for multi-terabit capacity transmission and agile spectrum/space switching in optical metro networks is presented, providing the proposed technological solutions, programmability aspects and preliminary assessment.

Multi-Tb/s sustainable MAN scenario enabled by VCSEL-based innovative technological solutions

“…The future metropolitan area network (MAN) architecture [1] will support different aggregated data traffic volumes and operate at heterogenous granularities, assuring a huge total throughput in transmission and routing in order to support a large range of applications (including mobile transport in terms of backbone, backhaul, and fronthaul, data center interconnection and enterprise connectivity) and any kind of service (such as 5G, mobile edge computing, UHD TV, etc.). A net positive market CAGR of 5% is expected till 2022 [2] for the metro optical equipment, which has to guarantee flexibility and scalability features, together with sustainability in terms of low cost, low power consumption and footprint.…”

Preliminary Assessment of Photonic Solutions Based on C-Band VCSELs for Multi-Tb/s Metro Networks

“…Thanks to bit and power loading at DSP level, DMT is able to address the efficient usage of the bandwidth resource as a function of the requested capacity allowing dynamic and flexible adaptation to traffic/channel conditions [17]. SSB modulation allows on the other hand to interleave up to 4 SOI chip modules integrating multiple VCSELs in the C-band with 100-GHz channel spacing achieving an ultimate granularity of 25 GHz [1]. By targeting beyond 50-Gb/s per VCSEL rate the overall supermodule capacity can reach 8-Tb/s capacity with 4-b/s/Hz spectral efficiency in case of polarization division multiplexing (PDM) [16,18].…”

“…This kind of networks need to support services such as 5G, Mobile Edge Computing, UHD TV, etc.. generating a huge IP traffic with uneven distribution along day-time. Optical transport technologies for MANs are encouraged to shift the paradigm of long-haul transmission developing agile solutions supporting a "pay-as-you-grow" evolution, to target reduced costs and possibly power consumption [1]. Innovative photonic technologies have the potentials to support the optical data transport allowing a huge transmission capacity and routing over variable distances and topologies, providing also low cost, low power consumption and reduced footprint.…”

Effect of Filtering in Dense WDM Metro Networks Adopting VCSEL-Based Multi-Tb/s Transmitters

“…The analyzed transmitter is based on a modular approach: each module is constituted by a SOI chip integrating multiple VCSELs at operating wavelengths within the C-band with 100-GHz channel spacing [1,6]. The fine granularity of 25 GHz is achieved by interleaving 4 modules and the efficient exploitation of the spectral resource is performed by DM high-bandwidth short-cavity (SC) VCSELs, with SSB DMT modulation.…”

“…Metropolitan area networks (MANs) are evolving toward more efficient and agile solutions able to support the IP traffic increase and its uneven distribution along day-time. Services such as 5G, Mobile Edge Computing, UHD TV, need a MAN allowing multi-Tb/s transmission and routing over variable distances and topologies, supporting a "pay-as-you-grow" evolution, to target reduced costs and possibly power consumption [1].…”