Physical layer performance benchmarking of two metropolitan area network configurations

Abstract

The current downturn in the telecommunications sector is imposing a major rethinking as regards the objectives and introductory time frame of optical networking. This is even truer in cost-sensitive segments like metropolitan networks. All-optical solutions will be introduced in a step-by-step approach and the intermediate stages need to be carefully thought out and planned in advance. In this work, two MAN solutions–one short term one using mature technologies and one longer term one using advanced ones–are benchmarked with respect to their physical layer performance. Subsequent variants of the baseline configuration deploying fewer and/or less demanding/lower performance components and subsystems are assessed to identify the trade-offs between performance and cost. It is shown via simulations that a metropolitan network of 1.28 Tb/s capacity can be constructed using four rings of 320 Gb/s capacity each. The geographic extension of such a ring could span up to 160 km with both solutions. It is also demonstrated that the technologically advanced solution is more robust when components with realistic performance are taken into account while it is able to cover a wider geographic range.