MSP (Multiplex Section Protection) is a per span protection.

A service line is protected using another line, called a protection line. If an error occurs, the protection
mechanism should switch over to the protection line. There are two main protection schemes for the
multiplex section:
1+1 : Traffic is simultaneously transmitted over working and protecting lines (or cards if it is for hiT i.e.
MSP bridge). The incoming traffic is select from the line that delivers signal in best condition (specifically
switch fabric selector is responsible for making the selection in a HiT).
o Switching type: unidirectional or bi-directional
o Operation type: revertive or non-revertive

1:N : A 1:N multiplex section protection system consists of N traffic-carrying multiplex sections that are
to be protected by an additional multiplex section. In this scheme only one of the working sections can be
protect at a time. The additional multiplex section can be used to carry low-priority traffic (unprotected)
when it is not used as a protection section for the rest N working sections.
o 1:N with N<=14 for STM-1/4/16 and N<=7 for STM-16/64
o Switching type: bi-directional
o Operation type: revertive

1:1 : This is a special case of 1:N protection scheme. In case of a failure on the working path, traffic is
switched to protecting path.
o Switching type: bi-directional
o Operation type: revertive

SubNetwork Connection Protection. is a per path protection.

SNCP is a network protection mechanism for SDH networks providing path protection (end-to-end
protection). The data signal is transmitted in a ring structure via two different paths and can be
implemented in line or ring structures. The changeover criteria are specified individually when configuring
a network element. A protection protocol is not required. The switchover to protection path occurs in the
non-revertive mode, i.e. if traffic was switched to the protection path due to a transmission fault, there is
no automatic switch-back to the original path once the fault is rectified, but only if there is a fault on the
new path (the one labeled as protecting and currently services traffic).

SNCP is a 1+1 protection scheme (one working and one protection transport entity). Input traffic is
broadcasted in two routes (one being the normal working route and the second one being the protection
route).

Assume a failure free state for a path from a node B to a node A. Node B bridges the signal destined to A
from other nodes on the ring, both on working and protecting routes. At node A, signals from these two
routes are continuously monitored for path layer defects and the better quality signal is selected.
Now consider a failure state where fiber between node A and node B is cut. The selector switches traffic
on the standby route when the active route between node A and node B is failed.

In order to prevent any unnecessary or spurious protection switching in the presence of bit errors on both
paths, a switch will typically occur when the quality of the alternate path exceeds that of the current
working path by some threshold (e.g., an order of magnitude better BER). Consecutively, any case of
failure drops in SNCPs decision mechanism.