ACCORDANCE: A novel OFDMA-PON paradigm for ultra-high capacity converged wireline-wireless access networks

Abstract

This paper presents ACCORDANCE, a novel ultra-high capacity extended reach optical access network architecture based on OFDMA technology/protocols, implemented through the proper mix of state-of-the-art photonics and electronics. Such architecture is not only intended to offer improved performance compared to evolving TDMA-PON solutions but also provide the opportunity for convergence between optical, radio and copper-based access. Although OFDM has been used in radio and copper-based communications, it is only recently that is making its way into optics and is expected to increase the system reach and transmission rates without increasing the required cost/complexity of optoelectronic components. ACCORDANCE hence aims to realize the concept of introducing OFDMA-based technology and protocols (Physical and MAC layer) to provide a variety of desirable characteristics, such as increased aggregate bandwidth and scalability, enhanced resource allocation flexibility, longer reach, lower equipment cost/complexity and lower power consumption, while also supporting multi-wavelength operation. In addition, it enables the convergence of the optical infrastructure with standard wireless solutions, thus offering a way to integrate dominant wired and wireless technologies in a hybrid access network supporting seamless ubiquitous broadband services.

Design and Analysis of IPACT-Based Bandwidth Allocation for Delay Guarantee in OFDMA-PON

“…An OLT at a central office is connected to multiple ONUs at the user premises via optical fiber through a passive optical splitter/combiner. Amplifications with/without multiple levels of splitting may be included to cope with a large number of ONUs or to extend the transmission distance in a long-reach option, as presented in [6,18,19].…”

“…OFDM-based PONs, which are the subject of this paper, have been studied to increase the network bandwidth by efficiently using available spectra [4,6]. Furthermore, they allow for extended network reach due to their high resilience to fiber dispersions [2,3,7].…”

“…The scheme reduces the implementation cost by allowing for simpler ONU structure, and it reduces the packet delay by immediately reporting queue information from the ONU to the OLT via dedicated subcarriers. In [6] and [10], MAC-layer issues are introduced considering physical layer aspects. Furthermore, a framework based on a 10-gigabit Ethernet PON (10GE-PON) MAC is presented.…”

QoS aware MAC protocol for OFDMA-PON

“…To that extent, a few studies, with relevance to access networks, have recently been presented which prove that orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) can provide high capacity, long reach and cost-effective operation for passive optical networks (PONs) [2]. Therefore, an efficient bandwidth utilization mechanism must be provided adhering to service level agreements (SLAs) and the appropriate class of service (CoS) indicators in order to achieve the QoS aware MAC protocol.…”

Dynamic Subcarrier Allocation for OFDMA-PONs with Monitoring Mechanism

“…To that extent, a few studies, with relevance to access networks, have recently been presented which prove that orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) can provide high capacity, long reach and cost-effective operation for passive optical networks (PONs) [1][2][3][4]. The upstream OFDMA subcarrier allocation in these architectures could however result in data collisions and reduced bandwidth utilization.…”