Steven Joseph Hand

Total cost of ownership of WDM and switching architectures for next-generation 100Gb/s networks

The bandwidth efficiency and relative costs for 100 Gb/s WDM transport and switching architectures are compared in North American and pan-European long-haul networks. The first architecture uses muxponders and ROADMs for end-to-end wavelength transport with no digital sub-wavelength grooming. The other two utilize digital OTN switching, as either a standalone OTN switch or a converged integrated WDM/switch system, to efficiently groom services onto WDM wavelengths. Results show the integrated WDM/switch architecture utilizes the fewest WDM wavelengths and client service interfaces, and an integrated WDM/switch architecture using photonic integrated circuit technology provides the lowest operational costs.

Comparing optical & OTN switching architectures in next-gen 100Gb/s networks

Bandwidth efficiency for 100Gb/s WDM and switch architectures are compared in a North American long-haul network. Results show that OTN grooming utilizes fewest WDM wavelengths, and integrated WDM/switch architecture utilizes fewest client service interfaces.

Comparison of converged packet-optical core network architectures

Two architectural approaches for converged packet-optical core networks are compared in a North American network: IP over WDM and IP over OTN. Results show a converged OTN/WDM layer reduces IP/MPLS and total packet-optical network costs.

Variation of OTN switching benefits in real-world networks based on network and traffic connectivity

OTN switching enables high network efficiency and operational ease-of-use. This paper evaluates several real-world network and traffic models and concludes that OTN switching benefits are maximized more by traffic patterns rather than by physical topology.

Photonic integration — Path towards energy efficient optical transport networks

This paper describes the evolution of photonic integration technology towards energy efficient optical transport networks. This paper evaluates the impact of Photonic Integration technology on optical transport network design and shows that the Photonic Integration technology not only makes the network energy efficient but also reduces the TCO (total cost of ownership) and simplifies the network design. A real world network model is utilized to quantify and compare results.

Network economics of optical transport networks with soft decision forward error correction (SD-FEC) technology

The goal of long haul DWDM transmission is to deliver error-free digital information at extremely high data rates and over very long distances, ideally without the need for regeneration of the signal. Forward error correction (FEC) is a method of encoding a signal with additional overhead information so that optical receivers can detect and correct errors that occur in the transmission path. The latest enhancement for FEC is the use of a soft decision algorithm that significantly improves the optical reach. This study evaluates the impact of soft decision forward error correction (SD-FEC) technology upon network design and economics in a long haul optical transport network. The network study shows that the SD-FEC technology not only reduces the total cost of ownership, but also simplifies the network design. Real-world network models are utilized to quantify and compare results.

A novel IPoOTN packet-optical architecture for economical and fast protection of link/IP port failures

We analyze two operationally deployable multi-layer restoration architectures for packet-optical networks that protect against port and link failures. An IPoOTN architecture using Layer 3 and Layer 1 protection mechanisms reduces IP port use by 46% compared to IPoWDM.