Packet OADMs for the Next Generation of Ring Networks

The deployment of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology in access networks is creating new demands on metropolitan area and backbone networks. The increasing bit rate per user and the simplification of access networks will make the traffic profile more bursty, requiring new flexible techniques at the metropolitan area network. This paper describes a ring network exploiting optical transparency and packet granularity. After a description of the packet optical add/drop multiplexer (POADM)-based network model motivated by specifications derived from expected needs, the paper addresses the advantages of the approach and the feasibility of the concept. (C) 2010 Alcatel-Lucent.