Optical Fiber Telecommunications VIB: Chapter 14. Elastic Optical Networking (Optics and Photonics)

This chapter introduces elastic optical networking, which is a new paradigm for the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) layer, based on a much more flexible use of the spectrum without a rigid wavelength grid, transponders that can be programmed for different modulation formats, tightly packed channels in a so called “superchannel” and impairment-aware control planes that tie the client layer and the optical layer together. We start by reviewing the changes in network usage patterns that require an overhaul of the network architecture. We then survey the enabling technologies, including flexible spectrum reconfigurable add/drop multiplexers (FlexSpectrum ROADMs), bit rate variable transponders (also known as software defined), and control plane capabilities. We provide a vision of the resulting architecture, including how to decide on the connection bit rate and other properties and how to manage the spectrum, and compare it to today’s WDM systems. We finish by surveying progress in standards for this technology.