Crosstalk-aware cross-core virtual concatenation in spatial division multiplexing elastic optical networks

Spatial division multiplexing elastic optical networks (SDM-EONs) will become the most important form of future optical transport networks, because it can break the physical limit of achievable capacity in single-mode and single-core fibre. However, spectrum fragmentation issue becomes more serious in SDM-EONs compared with in single EON. Crosstalk-aware cross-core virtual concatenation (CCVC) scheme is first proposed to solve the spectrum fragmentation issue in SDM-EONs. Simulation results show that CCVC can achieve lower blocking probability and higher spectrum utilisation compared with single-core virtual concatenation scheme.