Interference detection in spectrum-blind multi-user optical spectrum as a service

With the growing demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency applications, optical spectrum as a service (OSaaS) is of interest for flexible bandwidth allocation within elastic optical networks (EONs) and open line systems (OLSs). While OSaaS facilitates transparent connectivity and resource sharing among users, it raises concerns over potential network vulnerabilities due to shared fiber access and inter-channel interference, such as fiber nonlinearity and amplifier-based crosstalk. These challenges are exacerbated in multi-user environments, complicating the identification and localization of service interferences. To reduce system disruptions and system repair costs, it is beneficial to detect and identify such interferences in a timely manner. Addressing these challenges, this paper introduces a machine learning (ML)-based architecture for network operators to detect and attribute interferences to specific OSaaS users while being blind to the users’ internal spectrum details. Our methodology leverages available coarse power measurements and operator channel performance data, bypassing the need for internal user information of wide-band shared spectra. Experimental studies conducted on a 190 km optical line system in the Open Ireland testbed, with three OSaaS users, demonstrate the model’s capability to accurately classify the source of interferences, achieving a classification accuracy of 90.3%.