Independently routable digital subcarriers with configurable spacing for optical communication networks

An optical network system, comprising:

• a transmitter, comprising:
• a digital signal processor receiving a plurality of independent data streams, the digital signal processor configured to supply a plurality of digital outputs, based on the plurality of independent data streams;
• one or more digital-to-analog converter configured to convert the digital outputs of the digital signal processor to voltage signal outputs;
• a laser configured to output an optical light beam;
• and
• a modulator configured to modulate the optical light beam, based on the voltage signal outputs, to output a modulated optical signal including a plurality of optical subcarriers, wherein a first one of the plurality of optical subcarriers carries data indicative of a first one of the plurality of independent data streams, and a second one of the plurality of optical subcarriers carries data indicative of a second one of the plurality of independent data streams, wherein based on first ones of the plurality of digital outputs, the first one of the plurality of subcarriers is spectrally spaced from the second one of the plurality of subcarriers by a first gap, and based on second ones of the plurality of digital outputs, the first one of the plurality of subcarriers is spectrally spaced from the second one of the plurality of subcarriers by a second gap different than the first gap;
• and
• a receiver, comprising:
• circuitry configured to receive the plurality of optical subcarriers, and to convert the plurality of optical subcarriers into digital signals to output one or more of the plurality of independent data streams.