Access and Metro Network Convergence for Flexible End-to-End Network Design [Invited]

Abstract

Abstract-This paper reports on the architectural, protocol, physical layer and integrated testbed demonstrations carried out by the DISCUS FP7 consortium in the area of accessmetro network convergence. Our architecture modelling results show the vast potential for cost and power savings that node consolidation can bring. The architecture however also recognises the limitations of long-reach transmission for low latency 5G services, and proposes how to address such shortcomings in future projects. The testbed results, which have been conducted end-to-end, across access-metro and core, and have targeted all the layers of the network, from the application down to the physical layer, show the practical feasibility of the concepts proposed in the project.Index Terms-access metro, network convergence, fixed mobile convergence, long-reach PON, flat optical core, optical island, 5G architecture, next generation multi wavelength PON.

Burst-mode FEC performance for PON upstream channels with EDFA optical transients

“…1: the optical network units (ONUs), the optical line terminals (OLTs), and the optical distribution network (ODN) [1][2][3]. The ONUs are used by the customers to access the PON infrastructure and are connected to a chain of EDFA-based ANs through the ODN, as described in [5].…”

“…Long-reach passive optical networks (PONs) have been recently demonstrated capable of providing cost-efficient and flexible solutions for service convergence within the access and metro layers of the Internet infrastructure [1][2][3][4][5]. Different PON architectures have been proposed according to the geographical distribution of the customers which are covered by the network.…”

End-to-end network design and experimentation in the DISCUS project

“…However the average MC-node to customer distance along the LR-PON does increase [6] and this has implication when considering current requirements of fronthauling radio systems.…”

“…A cost-effective 40-Gb/s single-carrier TDM-PON downstream channel was also demonstrated utilizing an integrated high-power DFB-EAM (distributed feedback laserelectro absorption modulator) in the OLT and a 3-level detection receiver with an avalanche photodiode (APD) in the optical network unit (ONU). More details on the demonstration setup can be found in [6] and [15]. The proposed low-cost 40 Gb/s downstream scheme is illustrated in Figure 7.…”

Highly efficient optical aggregation network with network functions virtualization

“…A metro aggregation network uses electrical Layer 2 switches to aggregate low‐speed packet‐based traffic from numerous AGNs. This increases network cost as well as energy consumption because WDM transponders in conjunction with electrical switches are required at each transit node . Metro and access network convergence is one of the most important recent trends.…”