80.8-km BOSSNET SPECTS O-CDMA Field Trial Using Subpicosecond Pulses and a Fully Integrated, Compact AWG-Based Encoder/Decoder

We successfully demonstrate a spectral phase-encoded time-spreading (SPECTS) optical code-division multiple-access (O-CDMA) field trial on an 80.8-km link within the Boston-South Network (BOSSNET) using a fully-integrated, polarization-independent arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG)-based encoder/decoder. The subpicosecond pulse source is based on an ultrastable optical frequency comb generator employing dispersion-decreasing fiber. A novel tunable dispersion-slope compensator enables the use of subpicosecond pulses without extensive characterization of the field-deployed fiber. Bit-error rate (BER) and Ethernet traffic statistics are presented.