Integrated OTN switching virtualizes optical networks

Carriers view the transition to 100Gbps coherent networking as a once-a-decade opportunity to reboot network architectures. Operators are using this opportunity to introduce meshed networks via integrated OTN switching, and with it, new provisioning, restoration, and utilization efficiencies.

 

OTN switching provides an automated way to manage the mismatch of client services that are predominantly 10Gbps and below, with the rapidly scaling WDM line side capacity that is moving to 100Gbps and beyond.

 

Integrated OTN switching also can bring the popular concept of virtualization from the data center to optical transport networking by separating the client interfaces from a common WDM transport resource pool. In doing so, it allows more efficient use of these resources by maximizing utilization and moving beyond the architectural constraints of muxponder architectures.