{"title":"A Lean and fast optical datacenter internal network fabric with partial configurability","authors":"Konstantinos Kontodimas , Konstantinos Christodoulopoulos , Emmanouel Varvarigos","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100827","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100827","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The introduction of all-optical switching in datacenter internal networks (DCNs) marks a significant step toward overcoming the limitations of traditional electronic switching. However, challenges such as limited optical switch port counts and slow reconfiguration speeds demand new architectural approaches. In this paper, we propose a DCN fabric based on a “Lean” optical switch design that offers scalable, partially configurable switching. This architecture supports fast reconfiguration suitable for real-time scheduling and network control, while optimizing hardware complexity. To achieve this, we relax the non-blocking network constraint and adopt partially configurable switching modules, which reduce control complexity by limiting the scheduler's configuration space. We compare the proposed Lean network against two established optical DCN architectures: RotorNet, which relies on fully distributed control with minimal configurability, and optical Folded-Clos, which employs centralized control and fully reconfigurable optical crossbars. These architectures span different design trade-offs in terms of control and switching complexity. Our Lean design strikes a balance between the two, combining their respective benefits—offering moderate configurability, fast reconfiguration, and reduced control overhead. We analyze the crosspoint and scheduling complexities of all three architectures and evaluate their throughput and latency performance through packet level simulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 100827"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145314850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Buniechukwu Njoku , Milad Ghadimi , Swaraj Shekhar Nande , Akhmadjon Rajabov , Ming Yin , Ju Hoon Kim , Ernest Scholtz , Muhammad Idham Habibie , Bassem Arar , Caspar Hopfmann , Riccardo Bassoli , Frank H.P. Fitzek
{"title":"Quantum entanglement resource utilization in quantum-classical networking","authors":"Buniechukwu Njoku , Milad Ghadimi , Swaraj Shekhar Nande , Akhmadjon Rajabov , Ming Yin , Ju Hoon Kim , Ernest Scholtz , Muhammad Idham Habibie , Bassem Arar , Caspar Hopfmann , Riccardo Bassoli , Frank H.P. Fitzek","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100829","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100829","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work presents a hybrid quantum–classical architecture that converts entanglement-derived resources including ultra-precise timing, private/common randomness and certified entropy into first-class primitives for 5G networks. Semiconductor quantum-dot sources and correlation electronics distribute photon-pair coincidences, while a layered protocol stack exposes the resulting services to 5G core functions. As a proof-of-concept, we embed a quantum-random-number generator (QRNG) into the 5G Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) procedure, replacing the pseudo-random <span>RAND</span> generator in Open5GS with an HTTP-served QRNG feed. A simulation of sequential UE attachments shows that the QRNG path increases cumulative control-plane latency by <span><math><mrow><mo>≈</mo><mspace></mspace><mn>12</mn><mtext>%</mtext></mrow></math></span> and produces isolated Round-Trip-Time (RTT) spikes, yet leaves data-plane efficiency largely unchanged: delivery rate matches the baseline while a flatter pacing profile lowers the risk of queue build-up. These results quantify the performance trade-off of QRNG-enhanced 5G and motivate tighter in-process or hardware QRNG integration in future quantum-enabled mobile networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 100829"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145314944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Felipe Cézar Maia e Silva, Danilo de Oliveira Melo, José Roberto do Nascimento Arcanjo, Helder Alves Pereira
{"title":"Dynamic heuristics for transmission band assignment in multiband elastic optical networks","authors":"Felipe Cézar Maia e Silva, Danilo de Oliveira Melo, José Roberto do Nascimento Arcanjo, Helder Alves Pereira","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100825","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100825","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper, three dynamic transmission band assignment heuristics are proposed for multiband elastic optical networks. For that, five scenarios are considered involving three to five transmission bands. The amplified spontaneous emission noise, generated in the optical amplifiers, is considered as a physical layer impairment. The network performance is analyzed in terms of connection blocking probability and distribution of network accepted connections in each of the transmission bands, considering three well-known topologies in the literature. The results show that the proposed heuristics outperform the heuristics compared and available in the literature, in terms of connection blocking probability, in all scenarios analyzed. It is important to highlight that the order of the transmission bands must be taken into account during the assignment process so that, depending on the proposed heuristic, the difference in performance can be up to 76.5 percentage points in one of the scenarios analyzed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 100825"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145222988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anass Kharbouche, Noureddine El-Haryqy, Hamza Ouamna, Zhour Madini, Younes Zouine
{"title":"Visible light communication technologies: A tutorial and survey from fundamentals to cutting-edge innovations","authors":"Anass Kharbouche, Noureddine El-Haryqy, Hamza Ouamna, Zhour Madini, Younes Zouine","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100824","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100824","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of Visible Light Communication (VLC) has represented a major breakthrough by unlocking a new band of the spectrum, the visible light domain, while complementing the existing radio frequency spectrums. This innovation paves the way for applications that were previously inaccessible through traditional radio-based technologies. VLC has not only alleviated congestion in wireless networks but also offers a unique opportunity for expanding the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling communication between a multitude of connected devices. This paper provides a comprehensive review of VLC, tracing its development from its inception to the present state. The analysis is structured around the three essential components of a communication chain: the transmitter, the receiver, and the transmission channel. It is a synthesis of current knowledge, examining the various types of transmitters used, their adaptation to different applications, and their advantages and limitations. The paper also explores the methods for modeling transmission channels in VLC, detailing the differences between indoor and outdoor channels and how each type of channel corresponds to specific applications, along with their respective strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, particular attention is given to VLC receivers, analyzing their specificities based on channel types and the applications they are associated with. Through this review, the paper not only highlights the achievements made by researchers thus far but also discusses the challenges and future prospects in this ever-evolving field. Simulations and case studies are presented chronologically, providing a comprehensive view of the progress made and the results obtained, while identifying research avenues that need further exploration to advance this revolutionary technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 100824"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145183882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Locusts spiral navigation algorithm enabled high-speed data communication network for free space optics","authors":"Ankur Singhal , Anil Garg , Ajay Jangra , Poonam Rani , Priyanka Jangra , Deepti Chaudhary","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the past two decades, the proliferation of data communication devices has significantly expanded to raise the standard of living for the majority of people. However, the integration of multiple devices into a limited space requires significant bandwidth capacity when building densely connected networks. In addition, conventional systems increase synchronization errors and high operational expenditures. Therefore, to mitigate the limitations this research offers a Locusts Spiral Navigation Algorithm enabled Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing for high-speed data communication network in free space optics (LSN-OFDM-FSO). The proposed model utilizing the LSN algorithm effectively selects the best phasor weight factors with minimal Peak Average Power Ratio (PAPR) value. Moreover, the combination of Wavelength Division Multiplexing and Mach–Zehnder Modulator systems ensure high-speed connectivity with maximum transmission capacity. When compared with other existing modulation methods, the LSN-OFDM-FSO offers less Bit Error Rate <span><math><mrow><mn>3</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>5</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span> for a Free space optics length of 6 km. Additionally, the proposed model has less penalty total power of −966.674 dB, and total power of −33.2618 dBm. On the other hand, in terms of energy analysis, for 64 OLTs, the proposed model consumes a total energy of 9.29, and the ONU consumes less energy of 77.04. Moreover, the proposed system is well-suitable for high-speed data communication networks, with minimum information loss and delay.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100815"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144613300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shahram Dehdashti , Janis Nötzel , Peter van Loock
{"title":"Quantum capacity of a deformed bosonic dephasing channel","authors":"Shahram Dehdashti , Janis Nötzel , Peter van Loock","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper, using the notion of nonlinear coherent states, we define a deformed bosonic dephasing channel modeling the impact of a Kerr medium on a quantum state, as it occurs, for instance, in quantum communication based on optical fibers. We show that, in certain regimes, the Kerr nonlinearity is able to compensate the dephasing. In addition, our studies reveal that the quantum capacity of the deformed bosonic dephasing channel can be greater than that of the undeformed, standard bosonic dephasing channel for certain nonlinearity parameters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100814"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144572669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hilal Sultan Duranoglu Tunc , Abebu Ademe Bayleyegn , Joachim Notcker , Riccardo Bassoli , Frank H.P. Fitzek
{"title":"Resilience analysis of quantum network against targeted attacks: Recovery via rerouting and purification","authors":"Hilal Sultan Duranoglu Tunc , Abebu Ademe Bayleyegn , Joachim Notcker , Riccardo Bassoli , Frank H.P. Fitzek","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100810","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quantum networks are essential for secure quantum communication and distributed quantum computing. However, their performance is highly vulnerable to targeted attacks that disrupt entanglement distribution, leading to significant network degradation. To address this challenge, we propose two heuristic routing algorithms Quantum Entanglement Distribution Algorithm 1 (QEDA1) and Quantum Entanglement Distribution Algorithm 2 (QEDA2) that minimize loss of fidelity by reducing the number of intermediate nodes while optimizing entanglement swapping and purification strategies. In QEDA1 we only applied purification as a recovery mechanism, while in QEDA2 we utilized a purification-rerouting approach. Furthermore, unlike previous studies, which relied primarily on idealized or small-scale topologies, we evaluated our approach on a real-world network topology (Surfnet), analyzing throughput variations under both normal conditions and targeted attacks. Furthermore, we compare the performance of the algorithm in memory-assisted and memoryless quantum networks, demonstrating the impact of quantum memory on network resilience. In addition, we introduce an attack model based on centrality-driven node failures and propose a recovery mechanism that integrates rerouting and entanglement purification to mitigate the effects of targeted attacks. Our results indicate that QEDA2 is more effective in mitigating the effect of attacks on throughput. Moreover, our findings highlight the trade-offs between network robustness, resource allocation, and fidelity constraints, providing valuable insights for the design of resilient large-scale quantum networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100810"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quantum-secure protocols for privacy preserving location based services","authors":"Sushmita Sarkar , Tapaswini Mohanty , Vikas Srivastava , Debasish Roy , Sumit Kumar Debnath , Sihem Mesnager , Sourav Mukhopadhyay","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Location Based Service (LBS) uses users’ geographic location to provide relevant and personalized services. However, privacy concerns arise for both users and service providers. Users wish to receive necessary information based on location-related queries without revealing the content of their queries to preserve privacy. At the same time, the location server must protect its valuable data from unauthorized access, as this data is a critical asset. In this manuscript, we address this problem and provide a solution to it by utilizing an oblivious transfer (OT) protocol. We propose a <span><math><mi>k</mi></math></span>-out-of-<span><math><mi>n</mi></math></span> quantum oblivious transfer protocol (namely <span>GqOT</span>) as a solution to the above-mentioned problem. We describe the problem and the application of our proposed <span>GqOT</span> to solve the privacy preserving issues of users and service providers during LBS. The solution is practical and efficient as the source of quantum states for <span>GqOT</span> is single photons. Consequently, simple projective measurements are required to measure the quantum states. Moreover, <span>GqOT</span> also provides long-term security, ensuring a significant solution to the problem LBS addresses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100811"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144221811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Revolutionizing optical networks: The integration and impact of large language models","authors":"Sergio Cruzes","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100812","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100812","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing complexity and scale of optical networks demand advanced automation frameworks capable of adapting to dynamic service requirements, physical-layer impairments, and multi-vendor environments. Traditional solutions—based on static rule sets or narrowly scoped machine learning models—struggle to manage real-time performance, heterogeneous data, and domain-specific variability. Large Language Models (LLMs), built on transformer architectures, offer a paradigm shift by enabling context-aware reasoning, multi-task generalization, and natural language interpretation. These models can automate configuration generation, fault diagnosis, alarm correlation, and routing and spectrum assignment (RSA), while enhancing Quality of Transmission (QoT) estimation and scenario modeling.</div><div>This article provides a comprehensive survey of current automation approaches in optical networks, including software-defined networking (SDN), intent-based networking (IBN), machine learning (ML)-based orchestration, and cognitive control architectures. Special attention is given to emerging paradigms that integrate LLMs for intent interpretation, fault analysis, configuration generation, and reasoning.</div><div>Building on these foundations, we propose a hybrid framework that integrates LLMs with Digital Twin (DT) technologies to enable closed-loop control, predictive optimization, and explainable, intent-driven decision-making. Telemetry streams feed both DT simulations and LLM-based reasoning agents, supporting proactive reconfiguration and fault mitigation. To address LLM limitations—such as hallucinations and inference latency —the framework incorporates prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), domain-specific fine-tuning, and simulation-based validation.</div><div>The proposed architecture paves the way for resilient, autonomous, and sustainable optical networks that can self-optimize and adapt in real time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100812"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cost and power-consumption analysis for power profile monitoring with multiple monitors per link in optical networks","authors":"Qiaolun Zhang , Patricia Layec , Alix May , Annalisa Morea , Aryanaz Attarpour , Massimo Tornatore","doi":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.osn.2025.100813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As deploying large amounts of monitoring equipment results in elevated cost and power consumption, novel low-cost monitoring methods are being continuously investigated. A new technique called <em>Power Profile Monitoring</em> (PPM) has recently gained traction thanks to its ability to monitor an entire lightpath using a single post-processing unit at the lightpath receiver. PPM does not require to deploy an individual monitor for each span, as in the traditional monitoring technique using <em>Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer</em> (OTDR). In this work, we aim to quantify the cost and power consumption of PPM (using OTDR as a baseline reference), as this analysis can provide guidelines for the implementation and deployment of PPM. First, we discuss how PPM and OTDR monitors are deployed, and we formally state a new Optimized Monitoring Placement (OMP) problem for PPM. Solving the OMP problem allows to identify the minimum number of PPM monitors that guarantees that all links in the networks are monitored by at least <span><math><mi>n</mi></math></span> PPM monitors (note that using <span><math><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>></mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span> allows for increased monitoring accuracy). We prove the NP-hardness of the OMP problem and formulate it using an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) model. Finally, we also devise a heuristic algorithm for the OMP problem to scale to larger topologies. Our numerical results, obtained on realistic topologies, suggest that the cost (and power) of one PPM module should be lower than 2.6 times that of one OTDR for nation-wide and 10.2 times for continental-wide topology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54674,"journal":{"name":"Optical Switching and Networking","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100813"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144613301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"计算机科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}