Demonstrating Energy-Efficiency Improvements in Load-Adaptive Dynamic Multilayer Optical Networks

Inhalt:
The discussion about sustainability and climate change as well as the energy cost perspective of network operators gives increasing attention to the energy efficiency of telecommunication networks. A promising way to improve the energy efficiency of such networks is the load-adaptive operation in which the network capacity is adjusted to the actual timevarying traffic transport needs. In this paper the concept of load-adaptive operation in the core network is explained, with the respective underlying optical network and the associated mathematical optimization. Within the DESI project a demonstrator has been realized with a commercially available WDM/OTN system. As results, concrete proven power and energy savings and the projected savings for a nationwide multilayer core network are reported.