학술논문

Digital Subcarrier Multiplexing: Enabling Software-Configurable Optical Networks
Document Type
Periodical
Source
Journal of Lightwave Technology J. Lightwave Technol. Lightwave Technology, Journal of. 41(4):1175-1191 Feb, 2023
Subject
Communication, Networking and Broadcast Technologies
Photonics and Electrooptics
Transceivers
Point-to-multipoint communications
Traffic control
Passive optical networks
Costs
Optical transmitters
OFDM
Digital subcarrier multiplexing
point-to-multipoint
coherent access
metro aggregation
fronthaul
5G
Language
ISSN
0733-8724
1558-2213
Abstract
The various topologies, traffic patterns and cost targets of optical networks have prevented the deployment of end-to-end solutions across multi-domains, and the optimization of the network as a whole. The consequent limitations in flexibility, scalability, and adaptability of optical networks will become increasingly important with new applications, such as 5G/6G. Coherent transceivers based on digital subcarrier multiplexing (DSCM) are proposed to address these current constraints. In particular, DSCM allows (i) the design of high-capacity point-to-point (P2P) and -multipoint (P2MP) optical networks; (ii) simplified aggregation with passive optics; and (iii) connections between low- and high-speed transceivers. Furthermore, DSCM-based networks reduce the number of opto-electro-opto stages, halve the number of bookended transceivers, and provide a better match for existing hub-and-spoke (H&S) traffic patterns in fast-growing and dynamic access/metro segments. A DSCM-based transceiver will pave the way for the deployment of next-generation flexible, adaptable, and scalable software-configurable optical networks. Key steps and elements to realize this solution are laid out, and promising applications outlined. The first real-time experimental results of coherent P2MP transceivers are presented.