Practical considerations for near-zero margin network design and deployment [Invited]

Maximizing the delivered capacity of optical transponders by mining the SNR margin to a near-zero level is of critical importance for the economic viability of future optical networks. We examine this trend from the equipment design point of view and apply artificial intelligence to the problem of capacity maximization. The bottom-up approach is focused on providing the key metrics that are built on the fundamentals of network performance, whereas the top-down approach uses machine learning and policy-driven actions that have the promise to achieve an unprecedented level of control. These methods show promise in delivering a practical near-zero margin network deployment.