An efficient strategy for wavelength conversion in WDM p-cycle networks

The p-cycle concept offers a capacity-efficient and rapid protection mechanism for mesh-restorable networks. This work investigates the configuration of span protecting p-cycles in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks with limited wavelength conversion. Our focus is on the tradeoff between costs associated with the number of wavelength converters required and the total spare capacity needed for protection. We investigate a pan-European network as a test-case. The most important finding is that the number of wavelength converters can be greatly reduced, with only a small increase in spare capacity, by placing wavelength converters only at the access points between a transparent optical working path layer and a corresponding set of single-wavelength p-cycle protection structures.