Reliability performance of optical networks based on programmable ROADMs

Optical networks are carrying enormous amount of traffic and therefore, network reliability performance is extremely important to minimize the service interruption time and loss of data. In this regard the reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) implemented by Architecture on Demand (AoD) [1] can offer great advantages due to their flexibility and self-healing capabilities. In AoD nodes, components are interconnected via high-port-count optical switch serving as optical backplane, and each connection uses only the components necessary to fulfill the switching and processing requirements.