Flexrate technology for multi-layer interworking: The practical benefit of fine-granular rate adaptability in aggregation networks

This paper evaluates the potential of optical rate-adaptive transmission technology [1] in IP-based networks. The offered optical flexibility is beneficially utilized in a coordinated multilayer resilience (MLR) in reaction to a network failure [2]. The underlying flexrate technology is reviewed and realistic transceivers with fine-granular rate adaptation are drafted. After introducing an application scenario in DT´s aggregation network, we identify the practical techno-economic benefit from dynamic multilayer aware flexrate operations. For fine-granular rate adaptability we achieve a network capacity benefit of more than 75% compared to coarse-granular flexrate transceivers. A further 9% higher exploitable IP capacity is derived from parallel lightpath guidance through our ring-based infrastructure for approximately no extra costs.