Nonlinear Impairments (cont.)
Alternatively, one could assume that nonlinear impairments are bounded and increase the required OSNR level (SNRmin) by X dB, where X for performance reasons would be limited to 1 or 2 dB, consequently setting a limit on route length.
For the approach described here to be useful, it is desirable for this length limit to be longer than that imposed by the constraints which can be treated explicitly.
It is possible that there could be an advantage in designing systems which are less aggressive with respect to nonlinearities, and therefore somewhat sub-optimal, in exchange for improved scalability, simplicity and flexibility in routing and control plane design.