An example system includes a hub transceiver, a plurality of edge transceivers, and a control module. The control module is operable to receive, from one or more of the edge transceivers or the hub transceiver, telemetry data regarding at least one of a transmission or a receipt of data over the optical communications network, and determine, based on the telemetry data, performance characteristics regarding the optical communications network. Further, the control module is operable to transmit, based on the performance characteristics, a command to one or more of the edge transceivers or the hub transceiver to modify an operation with respect to the optical communications network.

A system comprising a hub transceiver coupled to a first network node; and a plurality of edge transceivers, each configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node, and to the hub transceiver, wherein the hub transceiver is operable to transmit a first message to each of the edge transceivers, the first message comprising an indication of available optical subcarriers and availability to use multiple non-contiguous optical subcarriers; receive, a service request identifying a selected subset of the available optical subcarriers including a non-contiguous first optical subcarrier and second optical subcarrier, transmit a second message to indicate either a success or a failure, and receive, via the selected subset, data from the second network node, and wherein at least one of the edge transceivers is operable to, transmit, using the selected subset of available optical subcarriers, data from the second network node to the first network node.

A method in an optical Wavelength Selective Switch, WSS, for multidirectional switching of optical signals. The optical WSS comprises a reflective element, a first tributary port and a second tributary port. The optical WSS switches (304) an optical signal between the first tributary port and the second tributary port with the reflective element.

A system for optical communications may include a multiplicity of optical communications relay platforms that each move above a surface of the earth. Each relay platform may include a relay link for communications between adjacent relay platforms. The system may also include a plurality of ground stations. Each ground station may be configured to communicate with another of the ground stations through at least one of the relay platforms. Each ground station may include an optical communications link for optical communications with successive relay platforms. The optical link of each ground station may be configured for handover connections between the successive relay platforms as the relay platforms move relative to the earth. The system may additionally include a network operations center having a link controller. The link controller may be configured to control switching of the communications links for hitless transmission between the ground stations.

A common component assembly is provided for a cable joint for joining a first submarine optical cable and a second submarine optical cable. The assembly includes a first end face including a first opening and a first flange for connection to a first cable termination unit of an undersea optical cable joint. The assembly also includes a second end face including a second opening and a second flange for connection to a second cable termination unit of an undersea optical cable joint. The assembly further includes a fiber tray connecting the first end face to the second end face. In addition, the assembly includes an optical assembly connected to a first side of the fiber tray. The optical assembly includes a free space optical add/drop multiplexer.

A system for optically aligning a photonics die to a fiber array, the fiber array comprising a first and a second fiber channels, the system comprising: the photonics die having: a first and a second optical channels; a first and a second wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) couplers each comprising a bar port, a cross port, and a common port, the first and the second WDM couplers being optically connected to the first and the second optical channels, respectively, via the bar ports and the common ports; and a waveguide crossing optically connecting the cross ports of the first and the second WDM couplers; the system being adapted to couple an optical signal received from the first fiber channel into the cross port of the first WDM coupler and into the waveguide crossing, the optical signal being propagated from the waveguide crossing into the cross port of the second WDM coupler.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for a configurable optical peering fabric to dynamically create a connection between participant sites without any physical site limitations or necessity of specialized client and network provider equipment being located within such a facility. Client sites to a network may connect to a configurable switching element to be interconnected to other client sites in response to a request to connect the first client site with a second site, also connected to network, via the switching element. A request may trigger verification of the requested and, upon validation, transmission of an instruction to the switching element to enable the cross connect within the switching element. The first site and the second site may thus be interconnected via the switching element in response to the request, without the need to co-locate equipment or to manually install a jumper between client equipment.

An example system includes a hub transceiver and a plurality of edge transceivers. The hub transceiver is operable to transmit, over a first communications channel, a first message to each of the edge transceivers concurrently, including an indication of available network resources on an optical communications network. Each of the edge transceiver is operable to transmit, transmit, over a second communications channel, a respective second message to the hub transceiver including an indication of a respective subset of the available network resources selected by the edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network. Further, the edge transceiver is operable to receive, from the hub transceiver, a third message acknowledging receipt of a selection and a fourth message confirming an assignment of the selected subset of the available network resources to the edge transceiver.

An example system includes a hub transceiver, a plurality of edge transceivers, and a control module. The control module is operable to receive, from one or more of the edge transceivers or the hub transceiver, telemetry data regarding at least one of a transmission or a receipt of data over the optical communications network, and determine, based on the telemetry data, performance characteristics regarding the optical communications network. Further, the control module is operable to transmit, based on the performance characteristics, a command to one or more of the edge transceivers or the hub transceiver to modify an operation with respect to the optical communications network.

A system comprising a hub transceiver and edge transceivers is described. The hub transceiver is coupled to a first network node via an optical communications network. Each of the edge transceivers is coupled to a respective second network node, and to the hub transceiver. The hub transceiver is operable to form one or more logical partition of optical subcarriers in an optical signal based on connection types. Each logical partition has a first partition boundary, a second partition boundary and a plurality of subcarriers logically between the first partition boundary and the second partition boundary. Each partition boundary is assigned a particular connection type. The hub transceiver assigns a subset of available optical subcarriers of the plurality of subcarriers where each assignment includes a number of optical subcarriers based on the connection type in the service request, and a subcarrier location within the one or more logical partition.