103-Gb/s Long-Reach WDM PON Implemented by Using Directly Modulated RSOAs

We propose and demonstrate a long-reach wavelength-division-multiplexed passive optical network (WDM PON) capable of providing 100-Gb/s service to each subscriber, for the first time to the best of our knowledge. For cost-effectiveness, this network is implemented in loopback configuration by using directly modulated reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers (RSOAs) at 25.78 Gb/s. For the modulation of the RSOA at such a high-speed, we have to minimize the electrical parasitics by using the butterfly package. Also, to overcome the limited bandwidth of the RSOA, we utilize the electronic equalization technique at the receiver. We use four RSOAs at each optical network unit for the 103-Gb/s upstream transmission. The operating wavelengths of these RSOAs are separated by the free-spectral range of the cyclic arrayed waveguide gratings used at the central office and remote node (RN) for (de)multiplexing the WDM channels. We extend the maximum reach of this WDM PON to be >120 km by using Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers at the RN. The results show that the error-free transmission can be achieved for all WDM channels in the wavelength range of >35 nm with sufficient power margins.