Abstract

The introduction of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) techniques into fiber networks opens perspectives for a global transparent optical telecommunication backbone. One of the most promising features of optical telecommunications is to provide a common infrastructure which could become an integration factor in a heterogenous but interconnected network environment. Furthermore optics can provide a degree of network transparency to bitrate, transfer mode and signal format of the transported signals. By using transparent optical crossconnect nodes, based on space and wavelength routing, a rearrangeble network topology can be achieved. Local exchanges could, in principle, be connected directly to each other through end-to-end transparent optical paths.

© 1995 Optical Society of America