Martin Stierle

Fully-Passive Optical Switch Introducing Dynamicity and Flexibility to Metro-Access

We experimentally demonstrate a tool for dynamic reconfigurability at the physical layer infrastructure through optically powered switches based on micro-opto-electro-mechanical system technology. Energy scavenging at the optical network layer is exploited to feed this switching element. Up to 13 consecutive switching operations are shown for a full energy reservoir in addition to endless continuous switching operation with a recharge time of 24 s between operations for an optical feed of 6 dBm. A fast switching mode with 120 ms is also supported. Crosstalk robustness, penalty-free switching, and compatibility with reflective networking schemes are achieved and guarantee scalable node technology that is, from a network point-of-view, fully passive.

Passive optical switching engine for flexible metro-access

We experimentally demonstrate dynamic reconfigurability of physical layer infrastructure through optically powered MOEMS-based switches. Crosstalk robustness and penalty-free switching guarantee scalable node technology that is, from a network point of view, fully passive.

Fully-passive resiliency switch for agile PON restoration

We present a network recovery concept based on fully-passive inline demarcation nodes powered through energy scavenging at low optical feed level of -10dBm. Protection switching in 10.7 ms is experimentally demonstrated at the PON feeder.

Passive ROADM Flexibility in Optical Access With Spectral and Spatial Reconfigurability

An energy-aware solution for physical-layer reconfigurability in metro-access networks is presented. The dynamicity of optical switching is introduced in nodes that are perceived as fully-passive by the network. Energy scavenging at low optical feed level of -10dBm supports field-deployment without local electrical power supply. Two types of network nodes are demonstrated experimentally. First, a resilience node is evaluated for fast protection switching in 10.7 ms at the feeder segment. Optical switching is further exploited for the purpose of dynamic allocation of spectral slices and routing in a new class of reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer. The spectral bandwidth of drop segments can be extended on demand while intranetwork communication among different segments of the access network is also enabled. Finally, we discuss the potential for realizing self-powering by means of tapping optical signals traversing the access network rather than utilizing a dedicated pump source.

Fully passive resiliency node for optical access [Invited]

A novel resiliency node for access network restoration is presented. Rather than using electrically powered nodes in an otherwise fully passive fiber plant, the proposed node is optically fed. The incorporation of energy scavenging mechanisms and optoelectronics with low power consumption guarantee operation at low optical feed levels of -10 dBm. Feeder protection for optical access is experimentally demonstrated that features a fast switching time of 10.7 ms in interaction with a control plane. Finally we identify options for self-pumping of the network node through simple optical power tapping of feeder and drop signals.

Fully Passive Remote Radio Head for Uplink Cell Densification in Wireless Access Networks

A novel remote radio head (RRH) concept for fully passive radio access network (RAN) plants is demonstrated for short-range wireless networks. The joint transmission of data and energy through the optical fronthaul of RANs enables on-demand network densification through the deployment of distributed cells with low-complexity and low-power antenna sites along a passive optical network without electrical supply. The feasibility of the proposed RRH is demonstrated in uplink direction, employing low-noise amplification and analogue radio-over-fiber transmission over multimode fiber. Remote powering through the optical fronthaul is realized at a feed power of 120 mW.

Scalable mobile fronthaul with spatial and spectral reconfigurability through virtually passive nodes

A flexible access and mobile fronthaul architecture with spectral re-allocation capability and dynamic lightpath provisioning among network segments is presented. Fully-passive operation of the optical distribution network (ODN) is retained through reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADM) that are solely supplied by means of energy harvesting at the optical layer with a low feed level of -9 dBm. Deployment with a typical power consumption amounting to 90 fJ/bit guarantees an energy-conscious fronthaul technology. It is further proved that urban radio access networks powered by a software-defined optical fronthaul can reduce the required amount of spectral resources by ~26% during on-peak when migrating to 5G.

Low-cost transceiver in single TO-can outline supporting WDM-overlay in filterless PONs

We demonstrate a single-fiber low-cost 1.25 Gb/s transceiver able to switch between transmission and reception mode. Crosstalk suppression with <;1dB penalty is achieved through filtered reception mode for WDM-loaded power-splitting PONs with >20dB optical budget.

Analogue Nyquist-filtering in DSP-less ONU for mitigation of bidirectional channel crosstalk in coherent PON

Spectral confinement of narrowly spaced up/downstream signals through brick-wall filtering enhances the crosstalk robustness of PONs. Experimental results at full-duplex 5Gb/s transmission show that analogue pulse shaping leads to a low 1.6dB penalty at unfiltered signal/crosstalk ratios of -10dB.

Fully-passive ROADM for flexible in metro-access networks

A virtually passive ROADM for dynamic spectrum allocation and lightpath provisioning among drop ports is experimentally demonstrated. Passiveness is granted by means of energy harvesting at a low optical feed level of -9 dBm.