Our latest simulation results offer compelling evidence on the benefits of deploying flexible transponders in metro/regional networks.

🔧 Simulation Assumptions:

  • OSNR degradation of 3 dB per 80 km in regional domains
  • Adaptive modulation — lowered when OSNR drops below pre-defined thresholds
  • OSNR margin benchmarked to 16-QAM thresholds

🧠 Key Takeaways:

  • Total transponder cost decreases with flexible transponders, even though P2MP units may be larger and costlier individually.
  • P2P connections are significantly reduced, as shown in Figure 39.
  • In Regional Domain A, when leaf nodes request up to 20 subcarriers:
    • The number of P2P transponders is halved at a 0 dB OSNR margin.
    • P2P nearly disappears beyond a 4.5 dB OSNR margin (≈120 km transmission distance).
    • Yet, the cost minimum is not reached at this point due to temporary increases in flexible P2MP deployment.
    • The network naturally shifts away from smaller-capacity transponders (4, 8, 16 SCs).
    • Cost stabilizes at a 7.5 dB OSNR margin, aligning with optimal P2MP transponder usage.

💡 These findings reinforce the value of OSNR-aware adaptive modulation strategies. By dynamically adjusting capacity and transponder type, networks can achieve both cost efficiency and scalability — critical for future-proofing regional architectures.

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