METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A MAXIMUM TRANSMISSION CAPACITY WITHIN AN OPTICAL NETWORK

摘要

A method for determining a maximum transmission capacity, TCAP_MAX-OL, of an optical link, OL, within an optical network includes loading (SA) an optical transmission spectrum of the optical link, OL, being partially occupied by at least one data traffic carrying channel, CH, with amplified spontaneous emission, ASE, noise spectrally shaped such that the transmission performance of the optical transmission spectrum fully occupied with data traffic carrying channels, CHs, is matched. The method further includes determining (SB) the maximum transmission capacity, TCAP_MAX-OL, of the optical link, OL, on the basis of measured link data transported through the optical link, OL, via the at least one data traffic carrying channel, CH.