Leveraging FlexGrid and advanced modulations in a multilayer, inter-datacenter network

The inter-DC network is unlike a traditional transport network due to fewer locations, significant capacity requirements, dynamic traffic and topology, and a large, shared pool of client capacity. FlexGrid increases spectrum per channel, while advanced modulations increase capacity per spectrum. The technologies combine to maximize transponder capacity and spectral efficiency, but may require changes to system architecture to maintain high scale, low cost, and operational simplicity.