Evaluation of Flex-Grid architecture for NREN optical networks

The paper presents an in-depth and structured evaluation of the impact that Flex-Grid technology reveals within current NRENs’ core optical networks. The evaluation is based on simulations performed with OPNET Modeler tool and considers NORDUnet as well as a normalized GEANT core optical network as reference topologies. Flex-Grid technology is suggested as a solution to cope with the different challenges in NREN transport networks such as traffic increase and introduction of novel physical layer services. Flex-Grid refers to narrow channel spacing values and requires a control plane which would enable all benefits given by the flexible spectrum allocation. GMPLS is considered in our implementation and the simulated scenarios follow the goal of answering the question: Do NRENs benefit from the introduction of Flex-Grid architecture?