TAPI-enabled SDN control for partially disaggregated multi-domain (OLS) and multi-layer (WDM over SDM) optical networks [Invited]

Abstract

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.

Experimental Demonstration of Dynamic Optical Beamforming for Beyond 5G Spatially Multiplexed Fronthaul Networks

“…The control of the OBF fronthaul network is delegated to the transport SDN controller, still under the global coordination of the NFVO. The communication between the NFVO and the transport SDN controller is based on the transport API (TAPI) [33], with extensions to deal with the specific optical beamforming technologies of the proposed fronthaul network, as described in Sec. V. The transport SDN controller manages the overall life cycle of the connectivity services in the OBF fronthaul network.…”

Enhancing Lightpath QoT Computation With Machine Learning in Partially Disaggregated Optical Networks

“…In this work we consider a partially disaggregated optical network that operates within a SDN framework, where the amplified lines connecting ROADMs may be independent WDM OLSs [16], [17], [20], as pictorially described in Fig. 1.…”

“…We suppose that the OLC operates in a way which is agnostic with respect to the traffic in the OLS, meaning that potentially unknown and proprietary algorithms may be in use. Additionally, we assume that a line model is supplied to the SDN optical network controller (ONC) by the OLC, for the purpose of network management [17], [18]. The ONC has overarching control over the entire network; in particular it controls the path of the optical tributary signals [19] through the WDM optical line systems on every ROADM-to-ROADM optical line, sets the switching matrices in ROADMs, and manages all control and safety operations [16], [18], [20].…”

“…An overview of the various classifications of margins and their contributors is presented in [15]. In this work, we consider a partially disaggregated optical network with a SDN approach to control and management [16], [17]; the network is constructed from disaggregated re-configurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADM)s [4], [18], connected by independent optical line systems (OLSs) that include the degrees of the ROADM multiplexer/demultiplexer, fibers, and amplifiers (booster, in-line and pre-amp). These OLSs transport colored WDM optical tributary signals [19] from ROADM to ROADM upon transparent LPs, with each OLS independently orchestrated using the SDN controller [20].…”

Influence of equalization enhanced phase noise on digital nonlinearity compensation in Nyquist-spaced superchannel transmission systems

“…Currently, optical fiber transmission network carries over 95% of the data traffic, the number of devices connected to the IP network continues to increase globally, which poses a severe challenge to the carrying capacity of the optical fiber transmission network 1 . The spectral efficiency (SE) and the capacity of the coherent optical transmission system have been promoted through Nyquist-spaced superchannel transmission systems, advanced modulation formats (MF), space division multiplexing, and machine learning techniques [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] . Together with the advances in high-speed digital signal processing (DSP) techniques, the transmission impairment such as the chromatic dispersion (CD), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), laser phase noise (LPN), and fiber nonlinearities (FNLs) due to the optical Kerr effect, can be separately suppressed [10][11][12][13][14][15] .…”