Reconfigurable Optical Networks

using WSS based ROADMs

Steven D. Robinson
VP, Product Management
srobinson@meriton.com

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 3rd Generation ROADM systems
OEO vs. All Optical ROADMs

Digital ROADM Hybrid Solution

Intelligent Electrical & Optical Switching

Five Essential Elements of

Next Generation Optical Networks

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

Plane & True Point-and-Click Provisioning

and Management Systems

ROADM
OPM

O
P
M

ADM

ADM

Mux

Mux

Design Networks
in Minutes
West

East

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Confidential

Up to 16 degrees

What is a ROADM?
Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM)
ROADM
Module

ROADM
Module

O
P
M

DROPs
ADDs

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

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

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Confidential

WDM Optical Transport Technology Options

WB Module
Add Filters/
Combiner
O
P
M

Splitter /
Drop filte
rs

2 Degree ROADM
Blocker/IPLC
with fixed filters

OPM

Fixed Port
ROADM
Per

OEO Regen

Optica
Multi-port
Mux/Demux
l Switc
h
OPM

(Point-to-point
DWDM)

Multi-Degree WSS
with fixed filters

OPM

Fixed
drops

Per

FOADM

Fixed
Adds

Optical Swit
ch

Multi-port Mux/Demux
OPM

O
P
M

Fully Flexible
Multi-degree
ROADM

Drops

Multi-Degree WSS ROADM

with colorless ports
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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

MP-WSS
WSS

Key

* Manages all wavelengths

Features:

* Lower system cost

* No OEO Pass-thru tax

O
P
M

* Fully Flexible Ports enable:

Any wavelength to any port

Flexible
Drops

Flexible Adds

Supports Tunable lasers

Dynamic Management

4 5 + 7

Jumper-less provisioning
* Multiple wavelengths/ drop port

ROADM MODULE

Mesh node capability

Ring interconnection
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Key Technologies used in Core

Reconfigurable Networks
True Point-and-click
Planning & Provisioning
Rapid
Automated Network
Planning

and End-to-End
Management

GMPLS
Control Plane

Fully Flexible WSS

ROADMs

Widely Tunable
Lasers

Fully Automated
Optical Layer
Integrated Platforms
Multi-Service
ADM-on-a-blade
Flexible, Transparent
Optical Interfaces

Integrated Optical Cabling

Cross Optical Switch

w/ Integrated. Transport

AGC / Transient Controlled

Optical Amplifiers (OAs)
Hot- Pluggable
SFPs & XFPs

Ethernet Networking

ROADM Systems provide much more than just Wavelength Reconfigurability

They provide a total Agile Optical Network Solution
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Confidential

Why do customers like All optical

Source
1 2 3

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

21

1-12

All Optical ROADM : 42 Transponders

12

21

ILA

All OEO or Digital Transport: At least 380 Transponders

21 20

20 19

19 18

18 17

17 16

16 15

15 14

14 13

13 12

12

ILA

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

Relative Cost, $

21

5
4
3
2
1
0
All Optical

All OEO

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OEO or ROADM
Which is the better choice?

Bit Rate

40 Gb/s

10 Gb/s

ROADM

ROADM

OEO

ROADM

OEO

2.5 Gb/s

10

12

14

16

18

Number of Pass-Thru Channels

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)

Confidential

Integrated OEO (Digital Transport)

Multi-Service & Investment Protection Issues
Integrated Tx

10 x 10G

Integrated Rx

OEO Regen

OEO Regen

OEO Regen

OEO Regen

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%

4 x 10G
30%
20%

10 x 10G

10%
0%
ATM

ESCON

FC1

GbE

FC2

OC-48

10G

40G

100G

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

Multi-degree ROADM or OEO?

Why be forced to choose?
All Optical ROADM Advantages:

OEO Advantages:

Sub-Wavelength Switching

Per wavelength Scaleable

1 2 . . . 40

Potentially Lower Terminal Costs

(at full capacity)

Simpler Optical Engineering

Lower Power

Simpler Multi-Degree Operation

Fully Automated Optical Layer

Low Pass-thru costs

Fully Bit Rate Transparent

1G 10G 100G

Multi-Degree
ROADM Switch

100G
40G

10G
10G
2.5G
2.5G

Per WL OEO
Switch
Multi-Degree
OEO Switching

Digital ROADM
Node
Confidential

Digital ROADM Hybrid Node

Lowest Overall Cost & Flexibility
All Optical
ROADM

Multi-Degree
All Optical
ROADM
100G
40G

10G
10G
2.5G
2.5G

Multi-Degree
Digital
Switching

TR
Digital
ROADM
Node
All Optical
Spur
Maintain manageable regions of transparency

Relative Cost, $

TR

Per WL
OEO
Switch

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
All Optical

Digital
ROADM
Hybrid

All OEO

Topology Agnostic

Traffic Pattern Agnostic

Bit Rate Agnostic

Simpler Optical Engineering

Simpler Multi-Degree Operation

Lower overall cost solution

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Intelligent Optical & Electrical Switching

Optical Drop
Wavelength

WSS
ROADM
(Optical
Switch)

Electrical
ADM

Drop/Add
1 GbE

Add
6 GbE

Electrical
ADM

Cross-WL
Optical Switch
with integrated
WDM

Switching Options:
Pass Thru Entire Wavelength

Transponder
with Electrical
ADM Switch
ADM

ADM

Mux

Mux

Optically Add/Drop Entire Wavelength

Optically Add/Drop Multiple Wavelengths (Multi-degree)
Electrically Add/Drop on a per Service Basis
Add/Drop Multiple Services/Wavelengths for
Cross Wavelength Grooming & Multi-degree Switching
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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)

MP-WSS
WSS

O
P
M

Flexible
Drops

Flexible
Adds

These systems must be designed from the ground up to realize their

full potential (Bolt-on ROADMs dont work)
Digital ROADM Hybrid Solution may offer the best flexibility and
lowest overall cost
100G
40G
10G
10G
2.5G
2.5G

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Confidential