Jun 2026· IEEE Conference on Network Softwarization· pp. 517-522· 0 citations· 20 references
Computer Science
Abstract
Future 6G networks will require transport solutions capable of meeting the stringent latency and bandwidth demands of any-haul traffic. This paper investigates the potential of converged metro-access networks offered as a service, within an Optical Network as-a-Service (ONaaS) framework, to address these requirements. Leveraging a physical-layer abstraction of a digital subcarrier multiplexing (DSCM)-based transceiver combined with statistical path analysis, we evaluate three key aspects: (i) route feasibility under split 7.2 latency and BER constraints for different Distributed Units (DUs) placement strategies; (ii) the resource footprint of Point-to-Point (P2P) versus Point-to-multipoint (P2MP) optical aggregation, accounting for transceivers, routers, and port occupancy at DU sites; and (iii) power consumption at both DU and network scale across varying spectral loads. Results show that increasing DU density significantly reduces the number of non-feasible routes, while P2MP architectures lower DU-site transceiver, router, and power requirements compared to P2P. These findings provide quantitative and qualitative gains for a scalable and energyefficient any-haul design in 6G converged metro-access networks enabled by ONaaS.
The rapid evolution of 5G and emerging 6G networks requires optical access systems to support immersive extended reality (XR) services with stringent quality-of-service (QoS) requirements, like ultra-low latency and high bandwidth. However, conventional dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) schemes in passive optical networks (PONs) allocate upstream bandwidth solely based on reported queue occupancy, without considering the unique characteristics of XR traffic. To address these limitations, we propose an XR-aware Predictive (XP)-DBA scheme that integrates XR traffic prediction, deadline-aware scheduling, adaptive grant control, and a cycle-controller to proactively allocate bandwidth, prioritize latency-critical packets, and limit polling-cycle growth. We also derive closed-form analytical expressions to characterize XR-specific stability and delay feasibility in PON systems. We evaluate XP-DBA under standardized and burst-enhanced XR traffic models across varying XR user densities and transmission distances of up to 100 km. The results show that XP-DBA will reduce latency, jitter, and polling-cycle time while increasing throughput and supporting higher XR user densities under heavy network loads without violating XR delay bounds. These findings establish XP-DBA as an efficient and scalable scheduling solution for next-generation immersive XR services over long-reach optical access networks.
Akhilesh Patel, Y. Singh· IEEE Transactions on Network...· 0 citations
The rapid evolution of beyond-5G and emerging 6G networks is driving the need for flexible, reliable, and cost-efficient virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) architectures capable of supporting heterogeneous services such as enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC), and Massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC). Future disaggregated RAN systems are expected to rely heavily on network slicing, functional split flexibility, and optical x-haul infrastructures to support stringent performance, scalability, and availability requirements. In this paper, we present an integrated framework for reliable, slice-aware, and functional split-aware Virtual Network Function (VNF) placement with lightpath provisioning in disaggregated vRAN environments. The proposed approach maximizes mobile network operators'profit by jointly optimizing function placement and optical resource allocation under latency, processing, bandwidth, and availability constraints. We formulate the problem as an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) model with two variants: one that employs unshared backups and another that uses a more cost-efficient shared backup scheme. To address ILP complexity, we develop a heuristic algorithm and a Genetic Algorithm (GA)-based metaheuristic that yields near-optimal solutions in real time. Extensive evaluations on topologies up to 128 nodes show that shared backup variants yield up to 18% higher profit, while maintaining up to 5-10% lower normalized CPU usage than unshared counterparts.
Mayank Ramnani, Shasank Dixit, Sushil K. Yadav et al.· 0 citations
Background. Modern OTN-DWDM optical transport networks have complex topologies, with more than one route between any two network nodes. Dynamic optical routing of spectral channels is required for flexible network management and to ensure reliable and uninterrupted operation. Spectral channel routes in OTN-DWDM networks are created using optical add / drop multiplexers (OADMs). Passive OADMs, based on optical filters, do not allow route changes without physical equipment replacement. Therefore, reconfigurable OADMs (ROADMs) are used in modern networks, enabling dynamic channel rerouting. Purpose. To qualitatively assess the effectiveness and feasibility of using ROADMs in OTN-DWDM networks based on a comparative analysis of their structural diagrams and architectures. Results. The operating principles and structural diagrams of ROADMs and their main components--wavelength-selective switches (WSS)--for DWDM networks using fixed and flexible spectral channel grids are examined. A comparative analysis of ROADM architectures (Colored, Colorless, Directionless, Contentionless, Broadcast-and-Select, Route-and-Select) is conducted. Recommendations for selecting a ROADM architecture for an OTN-DWDM transport network are provided. Practical relevance. The proposed recommendations for selecting a ROADM architecture can be used in the design and modernization of OTN-DWDM networks to reduce operating costs and improve network resilience.
M. Bylina, Alexandra Shevtsova· Telecom IT· 0 citations
The convergence of metro and access networks into unified optical infrastructures requires cost-effective alternatives to conventional solid-core fiber (SCF). This paper examines using hollow-core fiber (HCF) with digital subcarrier multiplexing (DSCM) transceivers in horseshoe-and-spur filterless optical architectures. Leveraging HCF's ultra-low nonlinearity, we optimize amplifier placement to maximize power budgets under realistic constraints. Our results show that HCF shifts the main limitation from nonlinearity to amplifier output power, enabling up to a 20 dB spur power-budget gain over SCF. Considering balanced and unbalanced couplers, we find that increasing amplifier density boosts reach only up to a saturation point (about 11-13 units in a 5-transit-node network). A techno-economic break-even analysis of hybrid SCF-HCF deployments shows that targeted HCF use provides intermediate performance gains and can fully recover its fiber cost premium through amplifier reductions.
M. Hosseini, J. Pedro, Antonio Napoli· 0 citations
Simulation results demonstrate that the IRFO-JORA algorithm could efficiently allocate resource according to system parameters and user QoE requirements, thereby significantly improving RF utilization efficiency.
This survey formally categorizes state-of-the-art DTN architectures into passive monitoring twins and active control twins, and provides an in-depth evaluation of their underlying enabling technologies, specifically ray-tracing, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, artificial intelligence, and mobile edge computing.
Charalampos Oikonomidis, E. T. Michailidis, N. Miridakis· 0 citations