Multi-wavelength transport networks

Optical networking is attracting a large amount of interest, particularly for local access and increasingly for long-haul, or core, network applications. However, optical networks are essentially analog, and with this return to analog transmission there are a number of issues that need to be understood and overcome if the concept of an optical transport layer is to become a reality. The Multi-Wavelength Transport Network (MWTN) within the European RACE II research program is studying the potential for optical networking in a managed network environment. This article outlines the MWTN networking concept and the comprehensive experimental test bed developed within the project. Communication networks are poised, awaiting the broadband revolution. Telecommunication, computer, and broadcast entertainment market places are converging with multimedia-based future services providing the drive and focus. In such an information-intensive future, customers will demand high-performance service with an agreed and measurable quality at the lowest cost. Furthermore, they will expect a common interface to all services. From a customer's perspective, the role of the network, the terminal equipment and the computer based multimedia application will be virtually indistinguishable. The synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) techniques are at the forefront of the move toward these future communication networks.<
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