Method and system for assigning modulation format in optical networks

A system for assigning a modulation format in optical networks, the system comprising a processor having access to memory media storing instructions executable by the processor to:

• identifying a pair of nodes of a plurality of nodes of a virtual optical network (VON);
• identifying an optical route between the pair of nodes and a desired availability of the optical route;
• determining a probability density function (PDF) of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a signal of the optical route;
• determining a SNR threshold such that an integration of the PDF of the SNR of the signal above the SNR threshold corresponds to the desired availability of the optical route;
• determining a plurality of spectral efficiencies that corresponds to the SNR threshold, each spectral efficiency of the plurality of spectral efficiencies associated with a respective modulation format of a plurality of modulation formats;
• identifying a particular modulation format of the plurality of modulation formats that corresponds to a maximum spectral efficiency of the plurality of spectral efficiencies;
• assigning the particular modulation format to the virtual optical network;
• and
• transmitting or receiving traffic over the virtual optical network using the particular modulation format.