Probabilistic shaping and intrachannel nonlinear compensation are advanced techniques with good potential to increase the reach of future optical transmission systems. While nonlinear compensation has attracted considerable attention from the research community, especially the digital backpropagation algorithm, probabilistic shaping for optical communications remains only partially explored. Both techniques are not mutually exclusive, but the research and development efforts allocated to one or the other technique will depend on their potential. This paper discusses advantages and disadvantages of both techniques, and network scenarios where one, the other, or both techniques should be applied.18th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON)JUL 10-14, 2016Univ Trento, Fac Letters & Philosophy, Trento, ITAL
