Experimental validation of an SDN residential network management proposal over a GPON testbed

Abstract

We propose, and experimentally demonstrate, an SDN (Software Defined Networking) new management solution for legacy GPONs (Gigabit Passive Optical Networks), which allows users to dynamically control their residential networks by means of a management application. In this way, users can customize the allocation of resources (and set constraints, if desired) to connected devices in their residential network, fast and efficiently. This real-time customization enables new business models for network operators and service providers. As a proof of concept and to validate the management solution, we demonstrate, in a testbed environment, the operation of a dynamic network scenario where an operator has a business model in which users have a contracted basic bandwidth, but they are allowed to increase it temporarily when using highly demanding services.