Study of a passive optical protection system

The reliability and uninterrupted connectivity of networks are crucial issues in today's interconnected world. Any disruption to network availability can lead to significant financial losses and damage to a company's reputation. It is in this context that Optical Line Protection (OLP) plays a crucial role. The Optical Line Protection (OLP) system represents a new solution developed with state-of-the-art technology, utilizing dynamic and synchronous optical switches. The main drawback of this system is that it is active, requiring electrical power. In this article, we have designed, implemented, and tested a new passive optical protection system based on optical attenuators and 2x1 couplers. The objective is to utilize passive switching between primary and secondary lines. This system can simultaneously switch a signal to a backup fiber if the primary fiber is cut, eliminating the need for dynamic routing and removing the power requirement of the OLP device. This OLP system works perfectly and has been tested over a length of 1 km between two bidirectional 1.25 Gbps Ethernet media converters. This approach ensures uninterrupted service continuity, thereby enhancing the reliability and resilience of the optical communication system.