First Demonstration of Subsystem-Modular Optical Cross-Connect Using Single-Module 6 × 6 Wavelength-Selective Switch

We demonstrate a highly scalable subsystem-modular optical cross-connect (OXC) that uses sub-OXCs based on a newly developed single-module 6 × 6 wavelength-selective switch (WSS). Network simulations in dynamic-traffic scenarios assure the good routing performance of the architecture. Its technical feasibility is confirmed by transmission experiments using 96-wavelength 32-Gbaud dual-polarization quadrature phase-shift keying (DP-QPSK) signals. The developed 6 × 6 WSS allows each DP-QPSK signal to traverse 12 nodes when the internode distance is 100 km.