Flexing the network

Packet-based networks, enabled by lasers, are still surprisingly inflexible. This paper looks at the photonic technologies that are helping them loosen up and keep our data flowing. With regards to this, the reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer was presented that could save operating costs by eliminating the need to send an engineer to a network node to install or configure the optical equipment. It would also mean that network set-ups could be reworked in minutes, not days.