Symmetric Terabit WDM Pre-DFT OFDM access network using PCF-supercontinuum

We have proposed a novel WDM Terabit access network based on pre-DFT orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and single photonic crystal fiber (PCF) supercontinuum (SC) light source. Duplex access with source-free ONUs is realized in this architecture. The single SC source can be shared with a number of ONUs and simplifies the network configuration, which can allow the realization of high-reliability as well as low-cost. The pre-DFT technology can help to mitigate the fiber nonlinearity of OFDM signal. A 2.5THz wide frequency comb which is potential to support symmetric 2.56Tb/s WDM pre-DFT OFDM access over 60 km with 1600 supported ONUs was demonstrated in the experiment. The demonstrated architecture may be viewed as one promising for future terabit optical metro/access.