New Generation Optical Networks seminar, 14th April 2009
ISCTE, Auditorio Afonso de Barros, Ala Autonoma
 

Seminar description and objectives

New generation optical networks are attracting more attention from different players: academia, manufacturers, operators and regulators. This seminar aims at bringing together participants from these different realms and to present their perspective and achievements on this hot topic.

This one day seminar is structured in two sets of communications by invited speakers describing not only recent technology and theoretical achievements but also current challenges and opportunities that emerge on the provision and deployment of these networks.
In the seminar programme there is also room for discussion between a panel of invited speakers and the audience.

The seminar is open to all interested in this topic (students, researchers, professionals). Due to limitations on number of maximum participants a pre-registration is required (details).

Seminar Programme

Morning Session: 9h30m-12h30m

9:30 Welcome, seminar opening and description

9:35 Reaching Optical MPLS from an OBS network interoperable with GMPLS (Slides)
 Professor Josep Solé-Pareta;
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

This talk will start reviewing some key conceptual aspects of the Optical Packet Switching (OPS) networks based on the Virtual Circuits scheme. In particular it will refer to the, so called, Optical MPLS (OMPLS). Nevertheless, since the current status of the optical technology is far to can provide what OMPLS requires to be deployed, the second part of the talk will rely on Optical Burst Switching (OBS) as a shorter-term available technology. Here two issues will be addressed, namely a proper OBS node architecture to be implemented, and the design of an interoperable GMPLS/OBS Control Plane. The former aiming to make possible the coexistence between OBS and OPS, and the latter to allow the migration from the Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) networks, currently under deployment, to the OBS networks.

10:35 Coffee Break

10:45 Redes de Acesso Ópticas  (Slides)
Professor João Pires;
 Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT) - Lisboa

A introdução de fibra óptica na rede de acesso é já uma realidade em vários países, enquanto em outros, como é o caso de Portugal, houve já operadores que anunciaram investimentos muito significativos para a fibragem do acesso.
A solução tecnológica, normalmente usada, designa-se por PON (Passive Optical Network). As redes PONs são baseadas, essencialmente, na norma GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network), e na norma EPON (Ethernet PON). A primeira suporta um débito máximo de linha de 2.5 Gbit/s, enquanto a segunda suporta um débito de linha de 1.25 Gb/s. Também está actualmente em fase de normalização a 10G-EPON, a qual vai permitir aumentar os débitos de linha para cerca de 10 Gb/s. Outra alternativa, passível de ser usada para aumentar os débitos de acesso consiste na utilização de WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) no acesso através da tecnologia WDM-PON. Numa perspectiva de médio prazo pode-se ainda equacionar uma estratégia de evolução baseada na convergência entre o acesso e o metro usando soluções ópticas. Contudo, estas novas redes de acesso/metro híbridas requerem a introdução de novas tecnologias como os amplificadores ópticos, e de novas arquitecturas de rede com elevada resiliência e por isso o seu projecto terá de dar resposta a problemas diferentes daqueles que são encontrados no projecto das PONs tradicionais. Nesta palestra ir-se-á examinar aspectos tais como as motivações para a introdução da fibra óptica no acesso, as tecnologias e as soluções topológicas disponíveis e as estratégias de evolução.

11:45 SARDANA- a Next Generation PON with extended reach and debits  (Slides)
 Professor António Teixeira;
Universidade de Aveiro (UA), Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT) - Aveiro

Next generation of optical networks will have to cope with highly demanding users and even geographical structures. For that in this talk we will observe the challenges we face when such targets are aimed, and subsequently we will address the technical solutions that are being developed in the SARDANA project and that will eventually influence the standards and the technical solutions for the next generation of access networks.

 

Afternoon Session: 14h30m-18h00m

14:30 Research Activities at Nokia Siemens Networks Portugal S.A. for Next Generation Optical Networks  (Slides)
 Professor Paulo Monteiro;
Nokia Siemens Networks, Universidade de Aveiro (UA), Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT) - Aveiro

Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) is a leading global enabler of communications services. The company provides a complete, well-balanced product portfolio of mobile and fixed network infrastructure solutions. Nokia Siemens Networks Portugal SA, which is the Portuguese branch of NSN, holds a laboratory for research and testing, which currently supports pure and applied research in several areas, such as next generation packet solutions and advanced network solutions across different areas, e.g., optical networks as well as protocols/network management for fixed and mobile applications.

This talk summarizes the research activities carried out by the Research Group at Nokia Siemens Networks Portugal S.A. in collaboration with both Universities and Research Institutes. These activities cover various aspects of High Speed Communications for Access and Core Optical Networks; Fixed-Mobile Convergence.

15:30 Next Generation Access Networks – a key factor of development  (Slides)
Eng. Álvaro Oliveira;
 Vodafone Portugal

In a world with ever increasing needs for communications among people and companies, NGANs will be key factor for development of an evolved society. These Networks still face however some barriers and difficulties, technical and non-technical. To overcome these barriers a joint effort will be required between the TELCOs, the Municipalities, the regulators and the contractors/installers, among others.
This presentation aims at analyzing the key topics of the subject and discuss the actions that should be followed in the next 1-2 years.

16:25 Coffee Break

16:40 Next Generation Networks: the regulator's perspective  (Slides)
Dr. José Manuel Ferrari Careto;
 Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM)

17:40 Closing/discussion panel

Organizing Comittee

Rui Jorge Lopes, João Rebola, Luis Cancela
Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa (ISCTE)