Optimizing spectral efficiency for a configuration of an optical network

An apparatus comprising:

• a communication interface configured to enable network communications;
• a memory configured to store executable instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the communication interface and the memory and configured to perform operations including:
• obtaining a baseline configuration that includes a traffic mode that uses a predetermined channel spacing of a plurality of channels in a frequency spectrum, wherein the plurality of channels are used for transmitting optical signals on an optical link in an optical network;
• while maintaining a performance parameter above or equal to a threshold value, varying at least one transmission parameter to reduce channel spacing by minimizing bandwidth allocated to at least one of at least two adjacent channels of the plurality of channels;
• generating a spectral frequency map in which the channel spacing is reduced with respect to the baseline configuration based on reducing the channel spacing of the plurality of channels;
• and
• configuring, via an optical network element in the optical network, the optical link based on the spectral frequency map.

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

• obtaining a baseline configuration that includes a traffic mode that uses a predetermined channel spacing of a plurality of channels in a frequency spectrum, wherein the plurality of channels are used for transmitting optical signals on an optical link in an optical network;
• while maintaining a performance parameter above or equal to a threshold value, varying at least one transmission parameter to reduce channel spacing by minimizing bandwidth allocated to at least one of at least two adjacent channels of the plurality of channels;
• generating a spectral frequency map in which the channel spacing is reduced with respect to the baseline configuration based on reducing the channel spacing of the plurality of channels;
• and
• configuring, via an optical network element in the optical network, the optical link based on the spectral frequency map.