Autonomous and Energy Efficient Lightpath Operation Based on Digital Subcarrier Multiplexing

The massive deployment of 5G and beyond will require high capacity low latency connectivity services, so network operators have either to overprovision in their transport networks or upgrade the optical controllers make decisions nearly real time; both solutions entail capital operational expenditures. A different approach could be move decision making toward nodes subsystems, they can adapt dynamically actual needs thus reduce costs terms energy consumption. To achieve this, several technological challenges need addressed. In this paper, we focus on autonomous operation Digital Subcarrier Multiplexing (DSCM) systems, which enable transmission multiple independent subcarriers (SC). Herein, present enabling DSCM operation, including: i) SC quality estimation; ii) at transmitter side blind configuration recognition receiver side; iii) intent-based management implemented through Reinforcement Learning. We provide useful guidelines for application supported by extensive results presented.