Handling contention resolution and congestion control in optical burst switching (OBS) for 5G networks

Abstract Optical Burst Switching (OBS) is emerging as a promising framework for the next wave of high-speed transport networks, but it does face significant challenges like burst contention and network congestion that can compromise performance. This paper presents the Adaptive Contention Resolution Protocol (ACRP), which merges proactive and reactive strategies to address these issues. The protocol’s performance has been evaluated through comprehensive simulations on the NSFNET topology. The results reveal that proposed ACRP outshines in comparison to traditional techniques like Just-Enough-Time (JET) with Tail-Drop and Basic Deflection Routing, achieving as much as a 40% reduction in Burst Loss Probability (BLP) and a 30% enhancement in average end-to-end delay under heavy load. These findings highlight the importance of adaptive solutions for the resilience of future optical transport networks.