Resource requirements in fixed-grid and flex-grid networks for dynamic provisioning of data center traffic

The seemingly insatiable demand for mobile, video and cloud-based services shows no sign of slowing down. High bandwidth-consuming applications such as super-sized cloud storage and 4K/Ultra High Definition video services are becoming more and more popular. This causes requirements for optical networks to reach transmission of 100 Gbps and beyond. However, going beyond 100 Gbps does not come without challenges. This explosive growth in bandwidth utilization will require optical networks to be more scalable, agile, flexible and cost effective. Current optical technology - Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) seems to become insufficient. The Elastic Optical Networks technology is a next step in the evolution of optical networks. This paper presents the minimum requirements for Wavelength Division Multiplexing and Elastic Optical Networks resources in order to achieve the best trade-off between the network cost and obtaining the various thresholds of Service Level Agreement. We take into consideration forecasted traffic volumes for the next few years. This paper will allow network providers to perform an improved estimation of the required network resources for the next few years.

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