@techreport{TR-IC-13-25, number = {IC-13-25}, author = {Rafael A. Scaraficci and Nelson L. S. da Fonseca}, title = {{Alternative Routing and Zone-Based Spectrum Assignment Algorithm for Flexgrid Optical Networks}}, month = {October}, year = {2013}, institution = {Institute of Computing, University of Campinas}, note = {In English, 13 pages. \par\selectlanguage{english}\textbf{Abstract} In optical flexgrid networks, the optical spectrum can be allocated at a much finer granularity that it can be allocated in fixed-grid WDM networks, and connections can use a variable number of slots. However, the dynamic establishment and tear down of lightpaths demanding variable spectrum widths yields to the fragmentation of the spectrum with increase in blocking of connections; mainly connections demanding large spectrum widths. This papers proposes a novel algorithm that introduces a zone-based assignment policy together with an alternative path routing mechanism based on the maximum capacity available. Results derived via simulation using different topologies and considering connections requests from 40Gbps to 1000Gbps, show that the proposed algorithm leads to blocking ratio consistently lower than those given by traditional approaches. Furthermore, it reduces the blocking ratio of high rates connections, in some cases, in more than six times. } }