Constrained-Optimization of Filterless Horseshoe Networks Supporting P2MP Coherent Transceivers

Optical metro-aggregation networks act as a bridge between access and core networks, enabling efficient aggregation and distribution of traffic from various sources. A recent development in this cost-sensitive network segment is the availability of point-to-multipoint (P2MP) coherent transceivers, which offer the promise of increased capacity and flexibility and reduced cost per bit transported. Horseshoe topologies guarantee redundancy via two hub nodes, and they are frequently chosen to realize metro-aggregation networks. Adopting a filterless architecture, selectively placing optical amplifiers, and customizing the splitters/combiners deployment per node allows further savings, but requires a complex design to ensure that all systems constraints imposed by the P2MP transceivers are observed. This paper proposes an optimization framework for the deployment of P2MP transceivers in a filterless horseshoe network with the aim of minimizing the number of optical amplifiers required while meeting system constraints such as power sensitivity, subcarrier power unbalance threshold, maximum launch power for quasi-linear operation, and required optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR).