Applying Digital Twins to Optical Networks with Cloud-Native SDN Controllers.

The use of Network Digital Twins (NDT) in optical networks is a promising development that can significantly improve network optimization, decision-making, and testing. The proposed architecture that utilizes SDN controllers to deploy NDTs presents a novel approach to achieving these benefits. The virtual representation of the physical optical network provided by the NDT allows for the testing of different scenarios and the validation of specific behaviors before their implementation in the physical network, such as network optimization. This approach can help network operators identify potential issues and optimize the network's performance, resulting in cost savings and improved user experiences. In this article, the authors present an architecture for optical networks that utilizes SDN controllers to deploy Network Digital Twins. The proposed architecture provides a virtual representation of the physical optical network, allowing for the introduction of several use cases. For example, the proposed solution enables the validation of dynamically deployed novel optical light-paths in the underlying physical network specific behaviors before implementation in the physical network. The authors evaluate key aspects of their proposed solution, including optical NDT deployment and tear down times, as well as the latency required to modify the NDT with information from the physical network.