30-Gb/s PAM-8 Transmission with Directly-Modulated Laser using Machine Learning Equalizer

We experimentally demonstrate a DML-based IM/DD modulated 30-Gb/s PAM-8 transmission over an 18-km SMF-28e for access networks. The nonlinear distortions due to DMLs are mitigated using an artificial neural network (ANN)-based nonlinear equalizer called ANN-NLE.