A comparative study of impairments aware optical networks planning tools

Abstract

Transparent and translucent optical networks are widely considered as the prime candidates for the core network technology of the future. These networks provide ultra high speed end-to-end connectivity with high quality of service (QoS) and resilience to failures. This will be achieved through appropriate network planning techniques. A downside of transparency, however, is the accumulation of physical layer impairments over long distances, which are difficult to mitigate using purely physical-layer techniques. Considering the impact of physical layer impairments on network planning and operation has received considerable attention from research community. A novel physical layer impairment aware network planning tool is presented in this paper. Its performance is quantitatively compared with results obtained by a state-of-the-art tool under a common network scenario. The differences between the two planning approaches are illustrated and discussed.