Future optical access network enabled by modularization and softwarization of access and transmission functions [Invited]

This paper discusses the future direction of optical access networks and proposes a new optical access architecture that will support the evolution of optical access systems from a fiber-to-the-home infrastructure to a common optical access platform that connects various devices and systems to anywhere they want to reach. We describe two technologies for its implementation. One is “modularization,” which is expected to be realized before 2030, and the other is “full softwarization,” which is the longer-term goal of drastically increasing network flexibility. For each technology, we summarize related technical trends and discuss a reasonable system configuration focusing on the access nodes.