Access and metro network convergence for flexible end-to-end network design

This paper reports on the architectural, protocol, physical layer, and integrated testbed demonstrations carried out by the DISCUS FP7 consortium in the area of access - metro network convergence. Our architecture modeling results show the vast potential for cost and power savings that node consolidation can bring. The architecture, however, also recognizes the limits of long-reach transmission for low-latency 5G services and proposes ways to address such shortcomings in future projects. The testbed results, which have been conducted end-to-end, across access - metro and core, and have targeted all the layers of the network from the application down to the physical layer, show the practical feasibility of the concepts proposed in the project

Next-generation optical access seamless Evolution: concluding results of the European FP7 project OASE

Increasing bandwidth demand drives the need for next-generation optical access (NGOA) networks that can meet future end-user service requirements. This paper gives an overview of NGOA solutions, the enabling optical access network technologies, architecture principles, and related economics and business models. NGOA requirements (including peak and sustainable data rate, reach, cost, node consolidation, and open access) are proposed, and the different solutions are compared against such requirements in different scenarios (in terms of population density and system migration). Unsurprisingly, it is found that different solutions are best suited for different scenarios. The conclusions drawn from such findings allow us to formulate recommendations in terms of technology, strategy, and policy. The paper is based on the main results of the European FP7 OASE Integrated Project that ran between January 1, 2010 and February 28, 2013

Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation in Heterogeneous OFDMA-PONs Featuring Intelligent LTE-A Traffic Queuing

This work was supported by the ACCORDANCE project, through the 7th ICT Framework Programme. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Lightwave Technology following peer review. © 2014 IEEE Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.A heterogeneous, optical/wireless dynamic bandwidth allocation framework is presented, exhibiting intelligent traffic queuing for practically controlling the quality-of-service (QoS) of mobile traffic, backhauled via orthogonal frequency division multiple access–PON (OFDMA-PON) networks. A converged data link layer is presented between long term evolution-advanced (LTE-A) and next-generation passive optical network (NGPON) topologies, extending beyond NGPON2. This is achieved by incorporating in a new protocol design, consistent mapping of LTE-A QCIs and OFDMA-PON queues. Novel inter-ONU algorithms have been developed, based on the distribution of weights to allocate subcarriers to both enhanced node B/optical network units (eNB/ONUs) and residential ONUs, sharing the same infrastructure. A weighted, intra-ONU scheduling mechanism is also introduced to control further the QoS across the network load. The inter and intra-ONU algorithms are both dynamic and adaptive, providing customized solutions to bandwidth allocation for different priority queues at different network traffic loads exhibiting practical fairness in bandwidth distribution. Therefore, middle and low priority packets are not unjustifiably deprived in favor of high priority packets at low network traffic loads. Still the protocol adaptability allows the high priority queues to automatically over perform when the traffic load has increased and the available bandwidth needs to be rationally redistributed. Computer simulations have confirmed that following the application of adaptive weights the fairness index of the new scheme (representing the achieved throughput for each queue), has improved across the traffic load to above 0.9. Packet delay reduction of more than 40ms has been recorded as a result for the low priority queues, while high priories still achieve sufficiently low packet delays in the range of 20 to 30msPeer reviewe