Multi-band OFDM transmission at 100 Gbps with sub-band optical switching

In this paper, we present an original work on sub-wavelength optical switching performed over a coherent multi-band orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) super-channel operating at 100 Gbps. After having demonstrated that dual-polarization MB-OFDM (DP-MB-OFDM) is as efficient as single-carrier dual-polarization quaternary phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) technology to transport 100 Gbps data-rate over a 10 × 100-km G.652 fiber-based transmission line, we show that optical add-drop of OFDM sub-bands as narrow as 8 GHz inside a 100 Gbps DP-MB-OFDM signal constituted of four sub-bands is feasible in the middle of this 1000-km transmission line. The flexible optical add-drop multiplexer (FOADM) implemented here is constituted by the association of an ultra-narrow pass-band and stop-band optical filter. The design and realization of such ultra-selective optical filters is presented, while the impact of their physical features over the quality of transmission is discussed. To prove that several add-drop multiplexers can be cascaded, our FOADM is introduced into a G.652 fiber-based recirculating loop and the impact of the cumulated filtering transfer function as well as the crosstalk inside the OADM are investigated. A typical use case for the introduction of such FOADM into long-haul transport networks is given, and the capital expenditure (CAPEX) cost advantage for the multi-layer transport networks is highlighted. By the proof of concept delivered here, combination of super-channel and sub-wavelength optical switching pushes network flexibility far away of what is today proposed by system vendors, opening new horizons for an optimized use of multi-layer transport networks.