Wavelength-Selective Reconfiguration in Transparent Agile Optical Networks

Author

Frisken, Steven ; Poole, Simon B. ; Baxter, Glenn W.

Author_Institution

Finisar Australia, Waterloo, NSW, Australia

Volume

100

Issue

5

fYear

2012

fDate

5/1/2012 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1056

Lastpage

1064

Abstract

The development of wavelength-selective switching (WSS) technologies is enabling the next generation of transparent optical networks, with remote reconfiguration of the mesh network providing optimal network utilization. Whereas first generations of networks were based on the ITU-defined fixed 50/100-GHz grids, true spectral transparency becomes possible with the introduction of Flexible Grid (FG) wavelength switching within the mesh network. Optical architectures that support the addition and dropping at any node of bandwidth-variable channels will allow optimal spectral utilization in transmission of legacy and next-generation transmission formats.

Keywords

next generation networks; optical communication equipment; wavelength division multiplexing; WSS technology; bandwidth-variable channels; flexible grid wavelength switching; legacy transmission; next generation transmission format; next generation transparent optical networks; optical architectures; optimal network utilization; optimal spectral utilization; remote mesh network reconfiguration; transparent agile optical networks; true spectral transparency; wavelength-selective reconfiguration; wavelength-selective switching technology; Add-drop multiplexers; Optical filters; Wavelength division multiplexing; Optical communication equipment; reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers; wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks; wavelength-selective switches (WSS);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Proceedings of the IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9219

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JPROC.2012.2184249

Filename

6172639