Generic optics, developed for applications different from RANs, may not fit the requirements of the mobile transport network. Optical components natively conceived for radio access and based on technologies driven by its requirements (right optics at the right time and the right cost) would accelerate the pace at which RANs are deployed and decrease the relative cost of the optics as part of the total RAN solution. In this session, Jim Zou looked at how emerging innovation is enhancing networking energy efficiency. While today’s solutions focus on high-end performance and end user experience, tomorrow’s infrastructure must also balance energy efficiency with varying traffic loads, and designs focused on sustainability.

1. Open optical edge connecting mobile access networks
Jim Zou, global business development
ECOC 2022 WS: Moving from optical components in RAN to optical components for RAN

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2
Optical fiber connectivity is the key to flexible capacity growth
Fixed X-haul transport for 5G RAN
Microwave Fiber Copper
?
RU 5GC
Backhaul
Carrier Ethernet
(NG/Xn, S1/X2)
Midhaul
Ethernet
(F1)
Fronthaul
eCPRI/Eth
(Fx)
DU CU
40-200 km
<10 ms
20-40 km
1-2 ms
0-10 km
25-200 µs
Source: O-RAN Alliance
1 2 4 8 16
Fx: 100MHz Sub6G 2.0 3.9 7.8 15.6 31.2
F1: 100MHz Sub6G 0.5 1.0 2.0 4.0 8.1
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
Bandwidth
in
Gb/s
MIMO layers
Single sector DL transport bandwidth (peak)
Peak
Average

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• C-band vs O-band
• Fixed vs tunable
• Dark fibers
• CWDM vs DWDM
• TDM vs FDM
• DML, EML, MZM, …
• NRZ, PAM-x, DMT, CAP, …
• IM/DD vs coherent
• Advanced modulation formats
• Equalization, shaping, EDC, …
• FEC
What are the optical layer options?
Transmission technologies
Wavelength windows
Parallelism
Modulation
(Digital) signal processing
A pragmatic approach is needed between cost and performance

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4
?
Direct-detect 10G
Direct-detect 25G
Coherent 400G
What’s next?
Optical transmission evolution
Coherent Edge 100G
Longer reach
Higher performance
Lower reach
Lower complexity and cheaper
Core
DU
Backhaul
Midhaul
Fronthaul
RU CU
?

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5
Close the gap between IM/DD and coherent
For optical edge/access interface
Purpose-built solutions
PAM-4 25G Coherent 100G

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Important aspects of RAN deployments
Power
consumption
Industrial
temperature
Module
cost
Module
latency
-40°C
+85°C
25G
Direct Detect
“Coherent slicing”
not viable
3W max Achievable Cost-effective
Minor KR4-
FEC latency
100ZR
Coherent
5-6W max Achievable
Relatively
Expensive
Optimized latency
through DSP/FEC
Too high-power consumption for SFP28 or even QSFP28
QSFP-DD/CFPx inefficient and expensive for only 25G-100G

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Summary
Edge access Edge aggregation
Access always appreciates a simple and cost-efficient solution
DWDM
multiplexer
DWDM
multiplexer
Nx25Gbit/s
PAM4 DWDM
25Gbit/s
wavelengths
100Gbit/s
wavelengths
…
Headend
Nx100Gbit/s
Coherent DWDM
DU/Router/
CCAP/ …
…
…
Mobile
access
Broadband
access
Business
services
RPD
RU
Coherent 100ZR
Direct-detection Coherent-detection
PAM-4 25G

8. Thank you
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jzou@adva.com