The application of optical packet switching in future communication networks

TLDR

Telecommunication networks face a dramatic capacity demand driven by the Internet, prompting the development of a reconfigurable optical core that offers high capacity, rapid provisioning, and, in the long term, optical packet switching to match bursty multimedia traffic efficiently. This article examines potential network application scenarios for optical packet switching. The authors discuss the design of an optical packet router as an edge device that bridges electronic and optical domains, addressing key technical challenges for its implementation. The optical packet router can aggregate IP traffic at scale, offering greater flexibility and efficiency than electronic terabit routers while reducing cost.

Abstract

Telecommunication networks are experiencing a dramatic increase in demand for capacity, much of it related to the exponential takeup of the Internet and associated services. To support this demand economically, transport networks are evolving to provide a reconfigurable optical layer which, with optical cross-connects, will realize a high-bandwidth flexible core. As well as providing large capacity, this new layer will be required to support new services such as rapid provisioning of an end-to-end connection under customer control. The first phase of network evolution, therefore, will provide a circuit-switched optical layer characterized by high capacity and fast circuit provisioning. In the longer term, it is currently envisaged that the bandwidth efficiency associated with optical packet switching (a transport technology that matches the bursty nature of multimedia traffic) will be required to ensure economic use of network resources. This article considers possible network application scenarios for optical packet switching. In particular, it focuses on the concept of an optical packet router as an edge network device, functioning as an interface between the electronic and optical domains. In this application it can provide a scalable and efficient IP traffic aggregator that may provide greater flexibility and efficiency than an electronic terabit router with reduced cost. The discussion considers the main technical issues relating to the concept and its implementation.