PDF of this tutorialCarriers have embraced DWDM as a mechanism to quickly respond to an increasing need for bandwidth, particularly in the long-haul core network. Many of these carriers have also recognized that this wavelength-based infrastructure creates the foundation for the new-generation optical network. This new-generation network must fulfill the demands of the new information age, which requires improved scalability, flexibility, and dynamic delivery of communication services. An evolution of the network is underway to meet this demand. The evolution introduces new network elements supporting an architecture that is better suited for the dynamic global distribution of broadband-based services. The next major step in this progression is the wide-scale deployment of intelligent core optical switches.
Figure 1. Optical Network Elements
Intelligent core optical switches converge the functions of transport, high bandwidth cross-connects and improved data-centric communication to more efficiently distribute a wide range of data types across a core network. These new network elements are designed to better accommodate the unique demands of data while also supporting other services such as voice and video. Carriers are evolving their networks to support new bandwidth and new wavelength-based services.
The new services will support the global distribution of new broadband applications such as medical imaging, Internet movies, interactive customer support, and additional applications that have yet to be discovered.
