SDN Enabled Dynamically Reconfigurable High Capacity Optical Access Architecture for Converged Services

Abstract

Dynamically reconfigurable time-division multiplexing (TDM) dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) long-reach passive optical networks (PONs) can support the reduction of nodes and network interfaces by enabling a fully meshed flat optical core. In this paper, we demonstrate the flexibility of the TDM-DWDM PON architecture, which can enable the convergence of multiple service types on a single physical layer. Heterogeneous services and modulation formats, i.e., residential 10G PON channels, business 100G dedicated channel, and wireless fronthaul, are demonstrated co-existing on the same long reach TDM-DWDM PON system, with up to 100 km reach, 512 users, and emulated system load of 40 channels, employing amplifier nodes with either erbium-doped fiber amplifiers or semiconductor optical amplifiers. For the first time, end-to-end software-defined networking management of the access and core network elements is also implemented and integrated with the PON physical layer in order to demonstrate two service use cases: a fast protection mechanism with end-to-end service restoration in the case of a primary link failure; and dynamic wavelength allocation in response to an increased traffic demand.