IST-DAVID: concept presentation and physical layer modeling of the metropolitan area network

The data and voice integration over dense-wavelength-division multiplexing (DAVID) metropolitan area network (MAN), following the packet-over-wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) approach, introduces a fast, agile, dynamically reconfigurable, and service-transparent optical layer. The fast reconfiguration allows the implementation of statistical multiplexing purely in the optical domain. Scalability limitations in the MAN network are attributed to noise accumulation, crosstalk, spectral narrowing from long cascades of multiplexers/demultiplexers, and fiber nonlinearities. Physical layer studies carried out using both analytical modeling and a commercial simulation tool show that the predominant source of Q degradation is spectral narrowing. It is shown that considering the longest protection path, a DAVID MAN network offering a 1.5-Tb/s capacity is feasible.