Analysis and optimization of two-tier networks with application to optical transport backbones

Abstract

Communication networks are often partitioned into tiers to provide a convenient framework for their optimization, graceful growth, and evolution. We extend the application of the Network Global Expectation model, which we have recently described, by considering a two-tier architecture for a communication network and analyzing the corresponding network requirements and costs using expectation values evaluated over the entire network. We also explicitly treat nonuniform traffic in the form of population-dependent demand. The capability of the model is illustrated by demonstrating scenarios for which the two-tier architecture may be used to reduce the cost of an optical fiber backbone network relative to a single-tier solution.