Design of flexible udWDM metro-access network devices assisted by high resolution complex spectroscopy

Abstract

The new cloud services, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the convergence of mobile and optical networks in the 5G scenario are pushing up the traffic demand over the metro-access networks. Flexible ultra-dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (udWDM) is a promising technology to address all these new requirements at the metro-access networks. These networks are cost sensitive, so vendors and providers are requiring a highly efficient spectrum usage to accommodate the maximum number of users and cost-effective devices for all the different elements on the network. High Resolution Complex Spectrum Analysis is a powerful tool not only to characterise different devices and network architectures, but also to study and design new complex modulation formats over cost-effective light sources, such as DFB and VCSEL, taking advantage of their physical dynamics (chirp). In this paper, some devices for 1 Gbps fullduplex links for udWDM Metro-Access Networks with 6.25 GHz frequency slots are presented and characterized using High Resolution Complex Spectroscopy.