Optical Communication Networks: Advancements and Future Directions

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Communication and Network".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2025 | Viewed by 3748

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Science and Technology Policy Research and Information Center, National Applied Research Laboratories, 14F., No. 106, Sec. 2, Heping E. Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei 10636, Taiwan
Interests: optical communication; optics patent analysis; silicon photonics; solar cell; technology and innovation management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Science and Technology Policy Research and Information Center, National Applied Research Laboratories, 14F., No. 106, Sec. 2, Heping E. Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei 10636, Taiwan
Interests: sensor analysis; optics patent analysis; silicon photonics; solar cell; technology and innovation management; semiconductor industry analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the advent of optical technology, optical communication networks are flourishing. Several countries advanced in information technologies have invested considerable funding and manpower into constructing the infrastructure required to establish optical communication networks, with the aim of leveraging their key strengths, such as their low transmission loss and ultra-wide bandwidth. In the past decade, data traffic across optical communication networks has increased dramatically, highlighting the key roles of optical communication networks and the demand for this technology. Thus, the academic and industrial sectors should cooperate to develop next-generation optical communications technology. In line with this endeavor, we are pleased to announce a Special Issue that focuses on forward-looking concepts for optical communication networks. Given the increasing focus on advancements and future directions with respect to optical communication networks, the conclusions of the Special Issue are expected to pave the way for broader and more in-depth investigations. In addition, we aim to compile and provide comprehensive recommendations and guidelines for future technological prospects in the field.

For the Special Issue, original research articles and reviews dedicated to theoretical or experimental advances in optical communication network technologies are welcome. The Special Issue centers on recent advances in frontier technologies, technology trends, and related applications of optical communications technology. We strongly encourage the submission of papers focusing on the keywords listed below. However, studies on other related topics will also be considered.

Dr. Shu-Hao Chang
Dr. Chin-Yuan Fan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • optical communication
  • technology foresight
  • communication network
  • optical switching
  • optical network

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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16 pages, 787 KiB  
Article
Novel Application of Quantum Computing for Routing and Spectrum Assignment in Flexi-Grid Optical Networks
by Oumayma Bouchmal, Bruno Cimoli, Ripalta Stabile, Juan Jose Vegas Olmos, Carlos Hernandez, Ricardo Martinez, Ramon Casellas and Idelfonso Tafur Monroy
Photonics 2024, 11(11), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11111023 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 873
Abstract
Flexi-grid technology has revolutionized optical networking by enabling Elastic Optical Networks (EONs) that offer greater flexibility and dynamism compared to traditional fixed-grid systems. As data traffic continues to grow exponentially, the need for efficient and scalable solutions to the routing and spectrum assignment [...] Read more.
Flexi-grid technology has revolutionized optical networking by enabling Elastic Optical Networks (EONs) that offer greater flexibility and dynamism compared to traditional fixed-grid systems. As data traffic continues to grow exponentially, the need for efficient and scalable solutions to the routing and spectrum assignment (RSA) problem in EONs becomes increasingly critical. The RSA problem, being NP-Hard, requires solutions that can simultaneously address both spatial routing and spectrum allocation. This paper proposes a novel quantum-based approach to solving the RSA problem. By formulating the problem as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) model, we employ the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) to effectively solve it. Our approach is specifically designed to minimize end-to-end delay while satisfying the continuity and contiguity constraints of frequency slots. Simulations conducted using the Qiskit framework and IBM-QASM simulator validate the effectiveness of our method. We applied the QAOA-based RSA approach to small network topology, where the number of nodes and frequency slots was constrained by the limited qubit count on current quantum simulator. In this small network, the algorithm successfully converged to an optimal solution in less than 30 iterations, with a total runtime of approximately 10.7 s with an accuracy of 78.8%. Additionally, we conducted a comparative analysis between QAOA, integer linear programming, and deep reinforcement learning methods to evaluate the performance of the quantum-based approach relative to classical techniques. This work lays the foundation for future exploration of quantum computing in solving large-scale RSA problems in EONs, with the prospect of achieving quantum advantage as quantum technology continues to advance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Communication Networks: Advancements and Future Directions)
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17 pages, 3041 KiB  
Article
Dedicated Path Protection with Flexible Switching Selection in Passive Optical 5G Xhaul Access Networks
by Mirosław Klinkowski
Photonics 2024, 11(10), 908; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11100908 - 26 Sep 2024
Viewed by 572
Abstract
This work addresses the optimized planning of survivable optical 5G Xhaul access networks employing passive Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technologies. Specifically, it focuses on the reliability of optical transmission paths connecting remote radio sites to a central hub ensured by using a novel, [...] Read more.
This work addresses the optimized planning of survivable optical 5G Xhaul access networks employing passive Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technologies. Specifically, it focuses on the reliability of optical transmission paths connecting remote radio sites to a central hub ensured by using a novel, cost-effective, flexible, and dedicated path protection (DPP-F) scheme, protecting against single-link failures. The proposed DPP-F network protection approach allows for switching of individual wavelengths or the complete multiplexed WDM signal, flexibly applying the best switching option according to given traffic demands. Concurrently, it enables traffic aggregation on the transmission paths from the end and intermediate nodes to minimize the overall network deployment cost. The problem of selecting primary (working) and backup (protection) paths, together with the selection of the best switching and traffic aggregation options, is modeled and solved as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) optimization problem. To evaluate the cost savings achieved with DPP-F, we compare it with two reference DPP schemes based on switching the entire multiplexed WDM signal (DPP-M) and individual wavelengths (DPP-W). Numerical experiments conducted across a wide range of network scenarios reveal, among other things, that DPP-F’s performance is at least as good as that of the reference methods, bringing significant cost savings (from several to tens of percent) in most of the analyzed network scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Communication Networks: Advancements and Future Directions)
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15 pages, 2499 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Impact of Topology and Physical Impairments on the Capacity of an Optical Backbone Network
by Alexandre Freitas and João Pires
Photonics 2024, 11(4), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11040342 - 9 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1049 | Correction
Abstract
Optical backbone networks constitute the fundamental infrastructure employed today by network operators to deliver services to users. As network capacity is a key factor influencing optical network performance, it is important to understand how topological and physical properties impact its behavior and to [...] Read more.
Optical backbone networks constitute the fundamental infrastructure employed today by network operators to deliver services to users. As network capacity is a key factor influencing optical network performance, it is important to understand how topological and physical properties impact its behavior and to have the capability to estimate its value. In this context, we propose here a method to evaluate the network capacity that relies on the optical reach to account for physical layer aspects in conjunction with constrained routing techniques for traffic routing. As this type of routing can lead to traffic blocking, particularly due to the limitation on the number of wavelengths per fiber, we also propose a fiber assignment algorithm designed to deal with this problem. We apply this method to a set of randomly generated networks using a modified Waxman model, and for a network with 60 nodes, in a scenario without blocking, we obtain capacities of about 2.5 Pbit/s for a symbol rate of 64 Gbaud and about 5 Pbit/s for a symbol rate of 128 Gbaud. Remarkably, this duplication in the total network capacity is achieved by an increase in the total fiber length of only about 51%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Communication Networks: Advancements and Future Directions)
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1 pages, 165 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Freitas, A.; Pires, J. Investigating the Impact of Topology and Physical Impairments on the Capacity of an Optical Backbone Network. Photonics 2024, 11, 342
by Alexandre Freitas and João Pires
Photonics 2024, 11(9), 849; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11090849 - 9 Sep 2024
Viewed by 314
Abstract
In the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Communication Networks: Advancements and Future Directions)
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