This work presents an estimation of the global electricity usage that can be ascribed to Communication Technology (CT) between 2010 and 2030. The scope is three scenarios for use and production of consumer devices, communication networks and data centers. Three different scenarios, best, expected, and worst, are set up, which include annual numbers of sold devices, data traffic and electricity intensities/efficiencies. The most significant trend, regardless of scenario, is that the proportion of use-stage electricity by consumer devices will decrease and will be transferred to the networks and data centers. Still, it seems like wireless access networks will not be the main driver for electricity use. The analysis shows that for the worst-case scenario, CT could use as much as 51% of global electricity in 2030. This will happen if not enough improvement in electricity efficiency of wireless access networks and fixed access networks/data centers is possible. However, until 2030, globally-generated renewable electricity is likely to exceed the electricity demand of all networks and data centers. Nevertheless, the present investigation suggests, for the worst-case scenario, that CT electricity usage could contribute up to 23% of the globally released greenhouse gas emissions in 2030.

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On Global Electricity Usage of Communication Technology: Trends to 2030

The fifth generation (5G) wireless network technology is to be standardized by 2020, where main goals are to improve capacity, reliability, and energy efficiency, while reducing latency and massively increasing connection density. An integral part of 5G is the capability to transmit touch perception type real-time communication empowered by applicable robotics and haptics equipment at the network edge. In this regard, we need drastic changes in network architecture including core and radio access network (RAN) for achieving end-to-end latency on the order of 1 ms. In this paper, we present a detailed survey on the emerging technologies to achieve low latency communications considering three different solution domains: 1) RAN; 2) core network; and 3) caching. We also present a general overview of major 5G cellular network elements such as software defined network, network function virtualization, caching, and mobile edge computing capable of meeting latency and other 5G requirements.

A Survey on Low Latency Towards 5G: RAN, Core Network and Caching Solutions

Space-division multiplexing (SDM) uses multiplicity of space channels to increase capacity for optical communication. It is applicable for optical communication in both free space and guided waves. This paper focuses on SDM for fiber-optic communication using few-mode fibers or multimode fibers, in particular on the critical challenge of mode crosstalk. Multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) equalization methods developed for wireless communication can be applied as an electronic method to equalize mode crosstalk. Optical approaches, including differential modal group delay management, strong mode coupling, and multicore fibers, are necessary to bring the computational complexity for MIMO mode crosstalk equalization to practical levels. Progress in passive devices, such as (de)multiplexers, and active devices, such as amplifiers and switches, which are considered straightforward challenges in comparison with mode crosstalk, are reviewed. Finally, we present the prospects for SDM in optical transmission and networking.

Space-division multiplexing: the next frontier in optical communication

Lightwave communications is a necessity for the information age. Optical links provide enormous bandwidth, and the optical fiber is the only medium that can meet the modern society's needs for transporting massive amounts of data over long distances. Applications range from global high-capacity networks, which constitute the backbone of the internet, to the massively parallel interconnects that provide data connectivity inside datacenters and supercomputers. Optical communications is a diverse and rapidly changing field, where experts in photonics, communications, electronics, and signal processing work side by side to meet the ever-increasing demands for higher capacity, lower cost, and lower energy consumption, while adapting the system design to novel services and technologies. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this rich research field, Journal of Optics has invited 16 researchers, each a world-leading expert in their respective subfields, to contribute a section to this invited review article, summarizing their views on state-of-the-art and future developments in optical communications.

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Roadmap of optical communications

The next-generation passive optical network stage 2 (NG-PON2) effort was initiated by the full service access network (FSAN) in 2011 to investigate on upcoming technologies enabling a bandwidth increase beyond 10 Gb/s in the optical access network. The FSAN meeting in April 2012 selected the time- and wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (TWDM-PON) as a primary solution to NG-PON2. In this paper, we summarize the TWDM-PON research in FSAN by reviewing the basics of TWDM-PON and presenting the world's first full-system 40 Gb/s TWDM-PON prototype. After introducing the TWDM-PON architecture, we explore TWDM-PON wavelength plan options to meet the NG-PON2 requirements. TWDM-PON key technologies and their respective level of development are further discussed to investigate its feasibility and availability. The first full-system 40 Gb/s TWDM-PON prototype is demonstrated to provide 40 Gb/s downstream and 10 Gb/s upstream bandwidth. This full prototype system offers 38 dB power budget and supports 20 km distance with a 1:512 split ratio. It coexists with commercially deployed Gigabit PON (G-PON) and 10 Gigabit PON (XG-PON) systems. The operator-vendor joint test results testify that TWDM-PON is achievable by the reuse and integration of commercial devices and components.

Time- and Wavelength-Division Multiplexed Passive Optical Network (TWDM-PON) for Next-Generation PON Stage 2 (NG-PON2)

Passive optical networks are the most important class of fiber access systems in the world today. This article first reviews the reasons why the PON as a general architecture is so important. We then outline in some depth the technologies used to implement this architecture, including the G-PON and E-PON systems being deployed today, and the advanced PON systems that provide the evolution path to ever higher bandwidths

An introduction to PON technologies [Topics in Optical Communications]

Passive optical networks are the most important class of fiber access systems in the world today. This article first reviews the reasons why the PON as a general architecture is so important. We then outline in some depth the technologies used to implement this architecture, including the G-PON and E-PON systems being deployed today, and the advanced PON systems that provide the evolution path to ever higher bandwidths. TOPICS IN OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS

An Introduction to PON Technologies

Mobile fronthaul is an important network segment that bridges wireless baseband units and remote radio units to support cloud radio access network. We review recent progresses on the use of frequency-division multiplexing to achieve highly bandwidth-efficient mobile fronthaul with low latency. We present digital signal processing (DSP) techniques for channel aggregation and deaggregation, frequency-domain windowing, adjacent channel leak age ratio reduction, and synchronous transmission of both the I/Q waveforms of wireless signals and the control words (CWs) used for control and management purposes. In a proof-of-concept experiment, we demonstrate the transmission of 48 20-MHz LTE signals with a common public radio interface (CPRI) equivalent data rate of 59 Gb/s, achieving a low round-trip DSP latency of <2 μs and a low mean error-vector magnitude (EVM) of ∼2.5% after fiber transmission. In a follow-up experiment, we further demonstrate the transmission of 32 20-MHz LTE signals together with CPRI-compliant CWs, corresponding to a CPRI-equivalent data rate of 39.32 Gb/s, in single optical wavelength channel that requires an RF bandwidth of only ∼1.6 GHz. After transmission over 5-km standard single-mode fiber, the CWs are recovered without error, while the LTE signals are recovered with an EVM of lower than 3%. Applying this technique to future 5G wireless networks with massive multiple-input multiple-output is also discussed. This efficient mobile fronthaul technique may find promising applications in future integrated fiber/wireless access networks to provide ultrabroadband access services.

Efficient Mobile Fronthaul via DSP-Based Channel Aggregation

With the advancement of radio access networks, more and more mobile data content needs to be transported by optical networks. Mobile fronthaul is an important network segment that connects centralized baseband units (BBUs) with remote radio units in cloud radio access networks (C-RANs). It enables advanced wireless technologies such as coordinated multipoint and massive multiple-input multiple-output. Mobile backhaul, on the other hand, connects BBUs with core networks to transport the baseband data streams to their respective destinations. Optical access networks are well positioned to meet the first optical communication demands of C-RANs. To better address the stringent requirements of future generations of wireless networks, such as the fifth-generation (5G) wireless, optical access networks need to be improved and enhanced. In this paper, we review emerging optical access network technologies that aim to support 5G wireless with high capacity, low latency, and low cost and power per bit. Advances in high-capacity passive optical networks (PONs), such as 100  Gbit/s PON, will be reviewed. Among the topics discussed are advanced modulation and detection techniques, digital signal processing tailored for optical access networks, and efficient mobile fronthaul techniques. We also discuss the need for coordination between RAN and PON to simplify the overall network, reduce the network latency, and improve the network cost efficiency and power efficiency.

Frank Effenberger

Papers

Time- and Wavelength-Division Multiplexed Passive Optical Network (TWDM-PON) for Next-Generation PON Stage 2 (NG-PON2)

An introduction to PON technologies [Topics in Optical Communications]

An Introduction to PON Technologies

Efficient Mobile Fronthaul via DSP-Based Channel Aggregation

Emerging Optical Access Network Technologies for 5G Wireless [Invited]