Sponsored by:

Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. Benefits and History of Optical Networks

2. Optical-Network Drivers

3. Enabling Technologies

4. Technologies on the Horizon

5. Component Applications

6. Markets for Optical Networks

7. Design and Planning

8. Restoration

9. Network Management

10. Network Evolutions: Part I

11. Network Evolutions: Part II

12. The Future of Optical Networks

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

Definition
Optical networks are high-capacity telecommunications networks based on optical technologies and components that provide routing, grooming, and restoration at the wavelength level as well as wavelength-based services.

Overview
As networks face increasing bandwidth demand and diminishing fiber availability, network providers are moving towards a crucial milestone in network evolution: the optical network. Optical networks, based on the emergence of the optical layer in transport networks, provide higher capacity and reduced costs for new applications such as the Internet, video and multimedia interaction, and advanced digital services.

As with any new technology, many questions arise. How is the optical network different from existing networks? What are the network elements required for optical networks? What applications do optical networks best suit? This tutorial will address all of these questions and explain the technologies, architectures, and market trends for emerging optical networks.