We model few-mode transmission as a potential cost/bit improvement solution in long-haul subsea systems. Without including the costs and complexities of MIMO transponders, we see some potential reduction relative to high fiber count cables with current subsea single-core/single-mode fibers, but only at the expense of much higher electric power requirements. Very high mode counts do not appear to offer significant advantages.
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Downie et al. (2024) studied this question.
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