<title>Optical network architecture for future global telecommunications</title>

Abstract

The introduction of Wavelength Division Multiplexing techniques into fiber networks opens perspectives for a global transport optical telecommunication backbone. By using signal transparent optical crossconnects, based on space and wavelength routing, a rearrangeable network topology can be achieved. Local exchanges could, in principle, be connected directly to each other through end-to-end transparent optical paths. Nevertheless, to attain a full- meshed interconnection, a relatively large number of wavelength channels is required between two nodes, growing rapidly to unrealistic numbers. Therefore, in order to achieve a more scalable network architecture, it is necessary to improve the routing granularity, without compromising too much the optical transparency and network simplicity. The architecture proposed introduces the required granularity by dividing the network in overlapping partitions, accessing the time domain at partition boundaries. The result is a scalable, flexible and simple high-capacity network architecture, ready to cope with future telecommunication demands well into the next century.