Facing the computing power network, new demands have been put forward for the optical transmission network in terms of architecture, bandwidth, latency, etc. The optical network needs to be transformed and upgraded to build an optical base that carries computing power.

At the 2024 China Optical Network Symposium held recently, Li Yunbo, the chief researcher of the Institute of Basic Network Technology of China Mobile Research Institute, introduced that for the computing power connection of the east-data-west-computation hub, China Mobile promotes the maturity of backbone long-distance 400G optical transmission and photoelectric linkage technology, builds a new generation of photoelectric linkage all-optical network based on 400G high-speed interconnection of OXC, and provides low-latency transmission, flat networking, and large-bandwidth guarantee capabilities.

At the same time, the application of AI in the optical network is gradually implemented in stages, building AI intelligent routing with dynamic scheduling capabilities to serve new applications of computing and networking.

Enhance the perception ability of dumb resources in the optical network, realize full parameter perception of the optical network, optical cable and resource planning and prediction, intelligent location and demarcation of faults and risk prediction, break through the intelligent simulation and decision-making technology of the optical network, promote the application of AI optimization scenarios, and realize the landing of AI in the main operation and maintenance scenarios of the optical network.

400G QPSK is a better solution for long-distance backbone transmission

The new all-optical network of photoelectric linkage based on OXC

Li Yunbo pointed out that based on 400G high-speed transmission, the flexible scheduling capability of network nodes needs to be increased. China Mobile proposed a new type of all-optical network of photoelectric linkage based on OXC. The photoelectric linkage focuses on the intercommunication between the optical layer and the electrical layer services. The electrical cross-matrix is used to complete the aggregation and scheduling of small granular services, and the optical cross is used to complete the wavelength-level service scheduling. The photoelectric OAM mechanism is pulled through to realize the photoelectric networking linkage to support large-scale networking and flexible scheduling.

Through the centralized control system for overall networking strategy control, each node throughout the process can obtain real-time information including the topology and performance information of each wavelength service through the optical layer OAM, which is used for cross-layer service path calculation, link configuration, protection and restoration, etc.

between the optical and electrical layers, achieving that the original two separate networks of optical and electrical become one integrated network of optical and electrical fusion. Through the optical layer OAM, the collaborative routing and service activation of the optical and electrical layers can be realized. Each wavelength carries label information. Through OAM detection, the wavelength routing table can be dynamically obtained. Based on the topology of the optical and electrical layers, the global optimal routing is designed; by reading the performance (optical power, OSNR) of a single wavelength through the optical layer OAM, based on the OSNR calculation of reachability and wavelength availability, the electrical relay or wavelength conversion is automatically configured; at the same time, by pulling through the OAM information of the optical and electrical layers, the fault collaborative location of the optical and electrical layers can be carried out.

Implement the application of AI in optical networks in stages