Showing papers by "Miroslaw Klinkowski published in 2022"

Open RAN—Radio Access Network Evolution, Benefits and Market Trends

Abstract: Open RAN (radio access network) movement is perceived as a game changer, having robust potential to introduce shifts in mobile radio access networks towards tailor-made solutions based on the architecture decomposition. It is widely assumed that those changes will affect the approach to network deployments and supply chains of network elements and their further integration and maintenance. First deployments of O-RAN-based networks have already delivered broadband services to end users. In parallel, many proof-of-concept feature evaluations and theoretical studies are being conducted by academia and the industry. In this review, the authors describe the RAN evolution towards open models and make an attempt to indicate potential open RAN benefits and market trends.

Planning of Optical Connections in 5G Packet-Optical xHaul Access Network

Abstract: One of the main challenges in dense 5G radio access networks (RANs) is provisioning of low-cost connectivity between a large number of antennas, located at remote sites, and a central site (hub) in which baseband processing functions are performed. Packet-switched Ethernet and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) are two principal transport network technologies enabling the reduction of the demand for direct optical fiber connections between the antennas and the hub. Whereas Ethernet allows for statistical multiplexing of multiple xHaul (fronthaul/midhaul/backhaul) flows and their aggregation in a high-capacity transmission link, WDM makes it possible to establish a number of such links (using different wavelengths) in a single optical fiber. Additional savings in the amount of fibers required can be achieved by means of optical add-drop multiplexers (OADMs) that allow for obtaining access to unused wavelengths by intermediate remote nodes, whenever the capacity on the WDM system is not fully utilized by the end remote node. In this work, we focus on the problem of planning optimal fiber connections, including the placement of OADMs for a set of wavelength demands at remote sites, with the aim of minimizing the amount of fibers used in a packet-optical xHaul access network carrying 5G traffic. We consider a passive WDM system in which the maximum transmission distance, estimated using an optical power-budget model, depends on the number of OADMs that are present on the transmission path. To formulate and solve the optimization problem, we make use of integer linear programming (ILP). We apply the ILP model in network analysis. In particular, by means of numerical experiments performed for two different network topologies, we study the impact of traffic load (in terms of the number of requested wavelengths) and optical multiplexer loss on the number of transmission paths that have to be established in the network. Obtained results show that the savings in fiber connections of up to 65% can be achieved in a packet-optical xHaul network if OADMs are used when compared to the scenario without OADMs.

OSNR-Aware Modeling and Optimization of Multi-Core Fiber-Based Spectrally–Spatially Flexible Optical Networks

Abstract: We focus on the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR)-aware optical path (lightpath) planning problem in spectrally and spatially flexible optical networks (SS-FONs) connected using weakly coupled multi-core fibers (MCFs) in which distance-adaptive and super-channel transmission is realized using multiple modulation formats. In the SS-FON considered, the quality of transmission (QoT) of optical signals is degraded due to the inter-core crosstalk (XT) effect occurring in MCFs. To account for the XT impairment when planning lightpath connections, we make use of a reliable QoT model based on the OSNR estimation, in which the XT impairment is integrated with other physical-layer impairments. To model the lightpath planning optimization problem, we develop a novel mixed-integer programming (MIP) formulation that incorporates the OSNR model. In addition, we propose an efficient heuristic method that is capable of solving larger instances of the optimization problem considered. The results of numerical experiments indicate the low scalability of the MIP method due to the presence of XT and high effectiveness of the heuristic method. The analysis of three different network topologies and two types of MCFs shows a high impact of XT on network performance and limited performance gains from the presence of the central core in a 7-core MCF.