SDN-enabled flexible optical node designs and transceivers for sustainable metro-access networks convergence

Abstract

The Internet data traffic constant growth caused by the popularization of cloud services, mobile and social networks, is being stressed by the advent of 5G technologies. Hence, architectural changes are required at the underlying networks to support the expected traffic volume growth, whereas providing a highly dynamic connectivity. Cost-effective and energy efficient solutions for flexible network subsystems are required in order to provide future sustainable networks. In this paper, we present flexible optical node designs (ROADM and OXC) and transceivers, remotely managed by a Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller, able to satisfy the requirements of future metro-access networks in support of 5G services. In particular, the overall architecture including both the novel data plane devices and the SDN control plane is discussed.