Reconfigurable Optical Networks using WSS based ROADMs Steven D. Robinson VP, Product Management Five Essential Elements of the NG Optical Network... moving from static networks to dynamic networks What does a ROADM do? Which type is better? Key Technologies for 3 rd Generation ROADM systems OEO vs. All Optical ROADMs Digital ROADM Hybrid Solution Intelligent Electrical & Optical Switching
Confidential 1 Reconfigurability Simple, Flexible, Self Maintaining Systems Pay as You Grow Scalability Start with 1, grow by 1 Seamless upgrade to 100G (efficiently) Aggregation & Sub- Switching Integrated “ADM-on-a-blade”, High BW efficiency Multi-Degree Operation Both Optical & Electrical Multi-degree Options Automated Network Planning One time Node Engineering, GMPLS Control and Management Systems Plane & True “Point-and-Click” Provisioning Five Essential Elements of Next Generation Optical Networks ROADM OPM OPMOPM Mux ADM West East Design Networks in Minutes Up to 16 degrees
Confidential 2 What is a ROADM? DROPs ADDs ROADM Module OPMOPM Key attributes of ROADM Module Fully Flexible, Remotely Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Automatic power equalization on inputs, outputs, adds, drops Optical Power Monitoring (OPM) of all channels Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) Key benefits of ROADM Module Elimination of the OEO “Pass-through” tax Scaleable Bandwidth ( Start with 1, grow by 1 ) Single Wavelength Granularity – No stranded bandwidth Fully Automated Optical Layer
Confidential 3 WDM Optical Transport Technology Options Fixed Port ROADM FOADM Multi-Degree WSS ROADM with colorless ports Fully Flexible Multi-degree ROADM Per Optical Swit ch Multi-port Mux/Demux OPM Drops OPMOPM Multi-Degree WSS with fixed filters Fixed drops OPM Per Optica l Switc h Multi-port Mux/Demux OPM Fixed Adds 2 Degree ROADM Blocker/IPLC with fixed filters OPM Splitter / Drop filte rs Add Filters/ Combiner OPMOPM WB Module OEO Regen (Point-to-point DWDM)
Confidential 4 Which ROADM Technology is best? Full Flexible, WSS based ROADMs Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) ROADM: Utilizes a single element to multiplex AND demux all express and all add/drop wavelengths Contains a built-in Optical Switch which can direct/select one or more wavelengths to/from any port Provides Automated, per channel equalization on all wavelengths Typically includes full Optical Power Monitoring on all wavelengths Can be configured for truly colorless ports for widely tunable lasers & dynamic wavelength management Can be modular (low first in costs) or fully installed on day one Key * Manages all wavelengths Features:* Lower system cost * No OEO Pass-thru tax * Fully Flexible Ports enable: Any wavelength to any port Supports Tunable lasers Dynamic Management Jumper-less provisioning * Multiple wavelengths/ drop port Mesh node capability Ring interconnection MP-WSS Flexible Drops Flexible Adds WSS OPMOPM ROADM MODULE
Confidential 5 Key Technologies used in Core Reconfigurable Networks Fully Flexible WSS ROADMs ROADM Systems provide much more than just Wavelength Reconfigurability They provide a total “Agile Optical Network” Solution Integrated Platforms Rapid Automated Network Planning Cross Optical Switch w/ Integrated. Transport GMPLS Control Plane and End-to-End Management Widely Tunable Lasers Fully Automated Optical Layer Hot- Pluggable SFPs & XFPs Multi-Service ADM-on-a-blade Ethernet Networking True Point-and-click Planning & Provisioning AGC / Transient Controlled Optical Amplifiers (OAs) Integrated Optical Cabling Flexible, Transparent Optical Interfaces
Confidential 6 Why do customers like “All optical” Source OEO becomes more expensive as the node count goes up (# Regens x # nodes) OEO becomes more expensive as the number of wavelengths increases (# WL x # Regens x #nodes) Use of Analog Optical Amplifiers lowers cost – unless you need to drop traffic All OEO or “Digital Transport”: At least 380 Transponders ILA All Optical ROADM : 42 Transponders ILA
Confidential 7 OEO or ROADM Which is the better choice? Decision depends on: Bit Rate; Number of Wavelengths Topology & Traffic Patterns Switching Need ( which determines # of pass-thrus vs # of drops) Size (# nodes and span length) Amplify? Regen? Total Cost of Ownership (OPEX vs. CAPEX) ROADM Gb/s Number of Pass-Thru Channels Bit Rate 10 Gb/s 2.5 Gb/s OEO ROADM ROADM
Confidential 8 Integrated OEO (Digital Transport) Multi-Service & Investment Protection Issues Network Bandwidth Efficiency 4 x 10G 10 x 10G Integrated Tx OEO Regen Integrated Rx Integrated 10G OEO: Optimized for 10G client transmission Other services require muxing or inverse muxing (no transparent transmission) Support for native 40G or 100G will require ripping out OEO fabric
Confidential 9 2.5G Per WL OEO Switch 10G 40G 100G Multi-Degree OEO Switching Multi-degree ROADM or OEO? Why be forced to choose? All Optical ROADM Advantages: Fully Bit Rate Transparent 1G 10G 100G Per wavelength Scaleable 1 2 Lower Power Fully Automated Optical Layer Low Pass-thru costs OEO Advantages: Sub-Wavelength Switching Potentially Lower Terminal Costs (at full capacity) Simpler Optical Engineering Simpler Multi-Degree Operation Multi-Degree ROADM Switch Digital ROADM Node
Confidential 10 Digital ROADM Hybrid Node Lowest Overall Cost & Flexibility Digital ROADM Node Topology Agnostic Traffic Pattern Agnostic Bit Rate Agnostic Simpler Optical Engineering Simpler Multi-Degree Operation Lower overall cost solution Per WL OEO Switch Multi-Degree All Optical ROADM Multi-Degree Digital Switching 2.5G 10G 40G 100G All Optical Spur All Optical ROADM Maintain manageable regions of transparency TR
Confidential 11 Intelligent Optical & Electrical Switching WSS ROADM (Optical Switch) Add 6 GbE Drop/Add 1 GbE Electrical ADM Switching Options: Pass Thru Entire Wavelength Electrically Add/Drop on a per Service Basis Optical Drop Wavelength Optically Add/Drop Entire Wavelength Transponder with Electrical ADM Switch Mux ADM Optically Add/Drop Multiple Wavelengths (Multi-degree) Add/Drop Multiple Services/Wavelengths for Cross Wavelength Grooming & Multi-degree Switching Cross-WL Optical Switch with integrated WDM
Confidential 12 ROADM Networks Summary Customers have recognized that low OPEX is now just as important as the lowest CAPEX ROADM Modules are just one part of realizing the Next Generation Agile Optical Network Other technologies such as automated planning tools, widely tunable lasers, optical backplanes, Pluggables, and GMPLS can dramatically simplify planning, operation & management Selection of the right kind of ROADM is crucial to realizing these savings (Colorless Port, modular, WSS based ROADMs are the best choice) These systems must be designed from the ground up to realize their full potential (Bolt-on ROADMs don’t work) Digital ROADM Hybrid Solution may offer the best flexibility and lowest overall cost MP-WSS OPMOPM Flexible Drops Flexible Adds WSS 2.5G 10G 40G 100G