Flexible OFDM-based access systems with intrinsic function of chromatic dispersion compensation

• Fractional optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing as a new multiplexing approach.
• Intrinsic chromatic dispersion compensation functionality in the new multiplexing approach.
• Cost-effective and tunable chromatic dispersion compensation functionality of the new multiplexing approach.
• Experimental demonstration of dispersion-tunable transmitter and receiver.

Cost-effective and tunable chromatic dispersion compensation in a fiber link are still an open issue in metro and access networks to cope with increasing costs and power consumption. Intrinsic chromatic dispersion compensation functionality of optical fractional orthogonal frequency division multiplexing is discussed and experimentally demonstrated using dispersion-tunable transmitter and receiver based on wavelength selective switching devices.