Transmission Performance of Optically Transparent Metro Edge Nodes

Transparent optical networks for metropolitan area are potentially able to connect a large number of heterogeneous users in a flexible manner and to provide a large capacity, high bit rates and high quality services integrating data, video, voice and multimedia. This paper proposes a novel architecture of transparent metro edge nodes that enable both optical packet and optical burst switching. Because of transparency of the edge nodes the metro network also includes a large part of the access network infrastructure. Thus, optical signal is generated and received in concentration units that are located in the access area and transmitted transparently through the metro nodes. This paper presents our results regarding scalability and transmission performance of the proposed network node architecture.