Enabling Optical Network Technologies for 5G and Beyond

We review a series of innovative optical network technologies for 5G and beyond mobile networks, enabling high-throughput mobile any-haul (x-haul) via wavelength-division multiplexing, bandwidth-efficient mobile front-haul via hybrid digital-analog radio-over-fiber, Shannon-limit-approaching long-haul transmission for core networks via advanced coding and probabilistic constellation shaping, low-latency 50-Gb/s passive optical network for cost-effective x-haul traffic aggregation, and service-enabling optical transport network capable of bandwidth-guaranteed network slicing with fine granularity. The vision and main application scenarios of the 5thgeneration fixed network (F5G) are also discussed. With its capability to support enhanced fixed broadband, guaranteed reliable experience, full fiber connection, energy-efficient broadband communication, real-time broadband communication, and harmonized communication and sensing, F5G is well positioned to not only support mobile networks, but also complement them to jointly meet the ever-increasing communication demands in the era of 5G and 6G.