Giacomo Borraccini NEC Labs AmericaGiacomo Borraccini is a Postdoctoral Scientist in the Optical Networking and Sensing Department at NEC Laboratories America. He received his Master of Science in Electronic Engineering and his PhD in Electric, Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering from Politecnico di Torino. His research focuses on physical-layer fiber-optic networks, with an emphasis on system-level optical-transmission design, modelling, and control. At NEC, Dr. Borraccini contributes to the development of open and disaggregated optical network systems, spanning different scenarios and use cases.In an age defined by massive data consumption, the next generation of optical networks will target enhanced scalability to accommodate increasing capacity demands, ensuring rapid deployment and seamless integration. Targeting those challenges, he plays a key role in NEC’s collaborative efforts to define automatic procedures based on telemetry, incorporating automation and cognition into network management. His work includes automated physical-layer characterization and optimization of single- and multi-band amplified systems (both lumped and distributed) using analytical models, machine learning, and numerical optimization algorithms.

Posts

GNPy as a Benchmark for Open and Disaggregated Optical Networks

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The evolution toward open and partially disaggregated optical networks has introduced new, to our knowledge,requirements on how transmission performance is evaluated and compared across technologies, vendors, and deployment scenarios. In this context, sound benchmarking practices are essential to ensure that quality-of-transmission (QoT) assessments are reproducible, transparent, and meaningful beyond isolated experimental demonstrations. QoT estimation plays a central role in these practices, as it directly impacts network planning,commissioning, automation, and long-term technology selection in heterogeneous optical infrastructures. This paper discusses benchmarking practices for optical transmission in open networks using the open-source GNPy library as a reference digital model. The contribution of this work lies in formalizing how a transparent, vendor-agnostic QoT estimator can be used as a common benchmarking baseline across research and industry. Representative experimental validations spanning short-reach, multiband, and multi-vendor flex-grid transmission scenarios are reviewed and reframed as benchmarking baselines, establishing evidence-based expectations on achievable accuracy and applicability limits under realistic operating conditions. Finally, the paper illustrates how reference QoT models are employed in industry-facing benchmarking workflows,including closed-loop interactions with standardization bodies, multi-vendor planning and automation,procurement processes and strategic network evolution toward emerging architectures.

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Optical Link Tomography: First Field Trial and 4D Extension

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Optical link tomography (OLT) is a rapidly evolving field that allows the multi-span, end-to-end visualization of optical power along fiber links in multiple dimensions from network endpoints, solely by processing signals received at coherent receivers. This paper has two objectives: (1) to report the first field trial of OLT, using a commercial transponder under standard DWDM transmission, and (2) to extend its capability to visualize across 4D (distance, time, frequency, and polarization), allowing for locating and measuring multiple QoT degradation causes, including time-varying power anomalies, spectral anomalies, and excessive polarization dependent loss. We also address a critical aspect of OLT, i.e., its need for high fiber launch power, by improving power profile signal-to-noise ratio through averaging across all available dimensions. Consequently, multiple loss anomalies in a field-deployed link are observed even at launch power lower than the system-optimal level. The applications and use cases of OLT from network commissioning to provisioning and operation for current and near-term network scenarios are also discussed.

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Optical Network Tomography over Live Production Network in Multi-Domain Environment

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We report the first trial of network tomography over a live network in a multi-domain environ­ment. We visualize end-to-end optical powers along multiple routes across multiple domains solely from a commercial B00G transponder, enabling performance bottleneck localization, power and routing opti­mization, and lightpath provisioning.

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Observing the Worst- and Best-Case Line-System Transmission Conditions in a C-Band Variable Spectral Load Scenario

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We experimentally investigated variable spectral loading in an OMS, identifying performance under best and worst transmission conditions. Metrics and data visualization allowed correlation between channel configurations and OSNR variations, enabling the derivation of a simple spectrum allocation rule.

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Computation Stability Tracking Using Data Anchors for Fiber Rayleigh-based Nonlinear Random Projection System

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We introduce anchor vectors to monitor Rayleigh-backscattering variability in a fiber-optic computing system that performs nonlinear random projection for image classification. With a ~0.4-s calibration interval, system stability can be maintained with a linear decoder, achieving an average accuracy of 80%-90%.

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Leveraging Digital Twins for AII-Photonics Networks-as-a-Ser­vice: Enabling Innovation and Efficiency

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This tutorial presents an architecture and methods for all-photonics networks-as-a-service in distributed Al data center infrastructures. We discuss server-based coherent transceiver architectures, remote transponder control, rapid end-to-end lightpath provisioning, digital longitudinal monitoring, and line-system calibration, demonstrating their feasibility through field validations.

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Toward Intelligent and Efficient Optical Networks: Performance Modeling, Co-existence, and Field Trials

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Optical transmission networks require intelligent traffic adaptation and efficient spectrum usage. We present scalable machine learning (ML) methods for network performance modeling, andfield trials of distributed fiber sensing and classic optical network traffic coexistence.

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QoT-Driven Control and Optimization in Fiber-Optic WDM Network Systems

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This paper outlines QoT-driven optimization strategies in coherent fiber-optic WDM networks, addressing distinct transmission scenarios, QoT metrics, control-plane methodologies, and emerging trends to enhance network reliability, flexibility and capacity.

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Scalable Machine Learning Models for Optical Transmission System Management

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Optical transmission systems require accurate modeling and performance estimation for autonomous adaption and reconfiguration. We present efficient and scalable machine learning (ML) methods for modeling optical networks at component- and network-level with minimizeddata collection.

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QoT Digital Twin for Bridging Physical Layer Knowledge Gaps in Multi-Domain Networks

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We propose building a spectrally resolved QoT Digital Twin for optical network domains where models and telemetry are unavailable, by probing transmission on a singlespectral slot, using GNPy, and demonstrating accurate experimental results.

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