Reconfigurable Radio Access Networks Using Multicore Fibers

We propose the use of spatial division multiplexing supported by multicore fibers to implement a new generation of flexible and capacity reconfigurable cloud radio access network front-haul architectures capable of addressing their main present and future challenges. We show that for the majority of radio access scenarios where front-haul optical links are less than 10-km long, the impact of inter-core crosstalk on the electrical carrier-to-noise ratio can be neglected, and thus, link design can be carried independently core by core. In addition, this MCF-based approach, which is compatible with software defined networking and network function virtualization, can also support the integration of a passive optical network overlay.