Cross-Domain Generalization in Optical Networks via Joint Contrastive and Classification Learning

Abstract

The robustness of machine learning techniques across heterogeneous network domains remains an open challenge in optical networks. Models trained on data from a specific topology or operational configuration often exhibit degraded performance when deployed in unseen networks. In this work, we address this challenge by proposing a representation learning technique aimed at capturing task-relevant relationships that remain stable across domains. The proposed technique is based on a novel joint contrastive and classification learning approach in which representation learning and task optimization are performed simultaneously, allowing both objectives to shape the latent space. Experimental results on a representative use case, namely, lightpath quality of transmission estimation, demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach compared to baseline approaches, and highlight its capacity for rapid adaptation, providing excellent performance even with limited fine-tuning.

arXiv comment6 pages, 2 figures. Accepted and presented at the 30th International Conference on Optical Network Design and Modelling (ONDM 2026), Munich, Germany, 12-15 May 2026