Enabling Optical Network Technologies for 5G and Beyond
Xiang Liu
Abstract
We review a series of innovative optical network technologies for 5G and beyond mobile networks, enabling high-throughput mobile any-haul (x-haul) via wavelength-division multiplexing, bandwidth-efficient mobile front-haul via hybrid digital-analog radio-over-fiber, Shannon-limit-approaching long-haul transmission for core networks via advanced coding and probabilistic constellation shaping, low-latency 50-Gb/s passive optical network for cost-effective x-haul traffic aggregation, and service-enabling optical transport network capable of bandwidth-guaranteed network slicing with fine granularity. The vision and main application scenarios of the 5<sup>th</sup> generation fixed network (F5G) are also discussed. With its capability to support enhanced fixed broadband, guaranteed reliable experience, full fiber connection, energy-efficient broadband communication, real-time broadband communication, and harmonized communication and sensing, F5G is well positioned to not only support mobile networks, but also complement them to jointly meet the ever-increasing communication demands in the era of 5G and 6G.