5G virtualization over a PON infrastructure enabled by silicon photonics

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The emergence of cloud computing and software defined networks has introduced a new paradigm for resource allocation on a global scale. Applications developed for mobile hand held devices assume computing tools remote and far can be brought to bear. Virtualization is exploited at every level of the communications link - the wireless link to distributed antennas, the optical backhaul to the smart edge, the internet backbone to data centers, and the switched racks of optically interconnected subsystems. Fiber to the home deployment provides a low capital expenditure (capex) solution for femto cell roll-out and provisioning. The universal coverage and extremely high bit rates promised by 5G can be achieved by exploiting the passive optical network (PON) infrastructure providing fiber connections to private residences. Radio over fiber piggy-backs wireless signals on the digital data travelling on the PON fibers. Radios at PON termination points capture 5G signals, convert them to the optical domain and route them to a remote access node (the smart edge) for electronic triage. The smart edge takes a network-wide view at optimizing resource allocation over the wireless femto cells covered, providing processing for latency-sensitive applications and routing less critical computations to the remote cloud. Silicon photonics components provide the added functionality of radio over fiber support, while respecting the cost imperatives of customer premises equipment. Equipment must be colorless, low-cost and scalable to ever increasing data rate requirements. We develop silicon and silicon nitride, system architecture compatible with virtualization solutions for 5G radio over fiber on a PON infrastructure. The roll-out of fiber to the home continues apace with deployments in North America increasing by 20 percent yearly, with Canada posting the fastest growth rate. With a research horizon of ~5 years, the assumption of extensive fiber to the home deployment is highly credible. Expansion of 5G coverage via denser cell networks would benefit Canadian consumers. .