Crosstalk-aware circuit reallocation to reduce blocking in spatial division multiplexed elastic optical networks

The exponential growth in data traffic, driven by technologies such as cloud computing and high-resolution video streaming, has necessitated the development of more efficient optical networks. Spatial Division Multiplexed Elastic Optical Networks (SDM-EON) have emerged as a promising solution, leveraging multicore optical fibers to increase available resources. However, the use of overlapping spectral regions in adjacent cores can lead to inter-core crosstalk, degrading signal quality and increasing the likelihood of blocking new circuit requests. This article addresses this critical challenge by proposing a circuit reallocation algorithm designed to mitigate inter-core crosstalk and reduce network blocking. The algorithm is triggered reactively when a circuit request is about to be blocked due to inadequate crosstalk levels, reorganizing active circuits to minimize overlaps and interference. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated across three different network topologies: NSFNET, EON, and JPN, demonstrating significant reductions in blocking probabilities. The study highlights the algorithm's efficiency in handling dynamic traffic scenarios, its minimal impact on network operations, and its potential to enhance overall network performance. Additionally, the article provides a detailed analysis of the reallocation process, including the selection criteria for circuits and the techniques used for data traffic migration, offering insights into the practical implementation of the proposed solution.