About ALLEGRO ‘Agile ultra low energy secure networks’
ALLEGRO aims at designing and validating a novel end-to-end sliceable, reliable, and secure architecture for next-generation optical networks, achieving high transmission/switching capacity
- with 10 Tb/s for optoelectronic devices and 1 Pbt/s for optical fiber systems
- low power consumption/cost
- with > 25% savings
- and secure infrastructures and data transfers.
The architecture relies on key enabling innovations:
- smart, coherent transceivers exploiting multi-band & multi-fiber technologies for P2P and P2MP applications, based on e.g., high-speed plasmonic modulators/photodetectors and programmable silicon photonic integrated waveguide meshes;
- loss-less, energy-efficient transparent photonic integrated optical switches, eliminating OEO conversions, e.g., with on-chip amplification in the O-band for datacom applications;
- a consistent approach to security, in terms of functional/ protocol architectures and communications, further improving QKD systems, enabling optical channel co-existence and researching on quantum-resistant (post-quantum) cryptography, developing systems based on physically unclonable functions; and
- a scalable AI/ML assisted control and orchestration system, responsible for autonomous networking, dynamic and constrained service provisioning, function placement and resource allocation, leveraging devices increasing programmability and overall network softwarization.
To achieve the target objectives and KPIs, ALLEGRO has defined a clear methodology ending in ambitious demonstrators. The consortium includes a good balance of industry and research/academia with know-how in complementary fields.
The results of ALLEGRO will be disseminated in leading conferences, events, and high-impact journals. They will have a concrete and measurable economic and social impact, contributing towards achieving key European objectives, reinforcing European leadership and digital sovereignty in the ongoing digital and green transition.
Project News
š Scaling Optical Networks for the Future š
As demand for higher-capacity networks grows, achieving a flatter, more efficient data plane is crucial to reducing both cost and power consumption per bit. However, with new services emerging over the next decade, spectral resources in some fibre links will become...
Evolutionary Architecture: Shaping the Future of Networks
Over the next five to ten years, we foresee a significant evolution in the data plane architecture, blending existing technologies with innovative new architectures.Our vision focuses on advancing network segments across Access, Metro, Backbone, and Intra-Datacentre...
Ā Access Network Evolution: Shaping the Next Decade
At ALLEGRO, weāre envisioning the transformation of Access Networksāspanning Radio Access Networks (RAN) and fixed accessāover the next 5ā10 years.š Key trends driving this evolution include:Packet-switched fronthaul/backhaul: Transitioning to cloudified...
Enabling Technologies: Driving the ALLEGRO Data Plane Architecture Forward
In the journey towards next-generation data plane architectures, enabling technologies play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the current state-of-the-art solutions and the visionary target architecture of ALLEGRO.š Whatās at stake?To meet the demanding...
Switching Node: Advancing Open Optical Networking with ROADM Architectures
In the realm of open optical networking, innovation drives transformation. The Allegro project explores cutting-edge technologies, and one key enabler is the Switching Node, leveraging the most advanced ROADM (Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer)...
Ā ALLEGRO: High-Capacity, Power-Efficient Transceivers for 6G Applications
The future of 6G demands groundbreaking innovations in network technology, and ALLEGRO is leading the charge with photonic and plasmonic transceiver technologies designed to deliver cost and power efficiency.Key Innovations:š Smart, Sliceable...
Ā ALLEGRO Data Plane: Pioneering Next-Gen Network ArchitecturesĀ
Weāre excited to share insights into the ALLEGRO Data Plane and its transformative impact on modern network infrastructures.Key highlights of the ALLEGRO Data Planeš¹ IP Node Consolidation: Achieving up to 50% IP node reduction by reducing hops (2-3 hops from access to...
Ā Control Plane Evolution: Driving Innovation with SDN
Traditionally, each layer of the data planeāIP/MPLS, Optical, etc.āhas operated independently, with its own protocols, network creation mechanisms, and separated management. However, the landscape has transformed significantly over the last decade.The rise of...
Ā Advancing Transport Networks and Switching Nodes in the ALLEGRO Project
The ALLEGRO project continues to push the boundaries of network innovation by exploring cutting-edge solutions for transport networks and switching nodes. Here's an overview of the technologies and architectures shaping this work:š Transport Network...
Introducing ALLEGRO Network ArchitectureĀ
In modern packet-optical transport networks, architecture is key to achieving efficiency, security, and scalability. The ALLEGRO architecture stands out by harmonizing three critical planes:š¹ Control PlaneResponsible for managing and controlling network operations. It...