A Comprehensive Network Performance Analysis of Multi-band Photonic Integrated WSS for 400G and 800G Transmission

Abstract

Bandwidth-intensive applications require an increase in the capacity of optical transport networks. One solution is multi-band transmission, which leverages low-loss optical spectrum windows to enhance network capacity without requiring new fiber infrastructure or significant capital expenditure. This study uses a Reconfigurable-Optical-Add-Drop-Multiplexer (ROADM) architecture utilizing a modular photonic integrated multi-band Wavelength-Selective-Switch (WSS) for multi-band transmission. The WSS architecture is assessed through a comprehensive network performance analysis, examining transceivers 400G and 800G, on real USA network topology. The study demonstrates the potential advantages of shifting from traditional C-band transmission to multi-band transmission in terms of network performance.