Presentation Information
[TuF2-1]Optical Spectrum as a Service: Progress and Challenges
○Marco Ruffini
The move toward 6G and denser wireless deployments is driving demand for higher-capacity, more dynamic optical networks. Static, multi-year capacity provisioning is increasingly inefficient as traffic patterns become more variable. Additionally, the shift to larger wireless bandwidths and higher carrier frequencies challenges the dominance of digital optical solutions, with analogue radio-over-fibre (RoF) emerging as a cost-effective alternative for transporting radio waveforms directly over optical networks.
Simultaneously, the rise of fibre-based sensing applications introduces new service requirements, particularly where distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is compatible with existing infrastructure. Meeting these diverse and dynamic needs requires flexible, low-cost access to optical capacity.
Optical Spectrum as a Service (OSaaS) offers a promising solution, enabling operators to monetize underused fibre assets while offering third parties more dynamic and cost-effective alternatives to dark fibre leases. However, realizing OSaaS at scale requires overcoming key challenges in automation and AI-driven management. In particular, porting ML models across different target networks, making use of transfer learning, and understanding the data requirements for robust deployment remain open research questions.
This tutorial will explore recent progress, key technologies, and the challenges ahead in enabling OSaaS as a cornerstone for next-generation optical networks.
Bio: Marco Ruffini is full professor at Trinity College Dublin, leading the OpenIreland lab and the Optical and Wireless networks research group. His research includes intelligent control of optical networks, fixed-mobile convergence, quantum networking and fibre sensing. He has over 210 publications, 10 patents, standards contribution, and competitive research funding for over €14M.
Simultaneously, the rise of fibre-based sensing applications introduces new service requirements, particularly where distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is compatible with existing infrastructure. Meeting these diverse and dynamic needs requires flexible, low-cost access to optical capacity.
Optical Spectrum as a Service (OSaaS) offers a promising solution, enabling operators to monetize underused fibre assets while offering third parties more dynamic and cost-effective alternatives to dark fibre leases. However, realizing OSaaS at scale requires overcoming key challenges in automation and AI-driven management. In particular, porting ML models across different target networks, making use of transfer learning, and understanding the data requirements for robust deployment remain open research questions.
This tutorial will explore recent progress, key technologies, and the challenges ahead in enabling OSaaS as a cornerstone for next-generation optical networks.
Bio: Marco Ruffini is full professor at Trinity College Dublin, leading the OpenIreland lab and the Optical and Wireless networks research group. His research includes intelligent control of optical networks, fixed-mobile convergence, quantum networking and fibre sensing. He has over 210 publications, 10 patents, standards contribution, and competitive research funding for over €14M.
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