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

 Reconfigurability
 Pay as You Grow Scalability
 Aggregation & Sub- Switching
 Multi-Degree Operation
 Automated Network Planning
and Management Systems
ROADM O
P
M
OPM
ADM
Mux
Five Essential Elements of
Next Generation Optical Networks
 Simple, Flexible, Self Maintaining Systems
 Start with 1 , grow by 1 
Seamless upgrade to 100G (efficiently)
 Integrated “ADM-on-a-blade”, High BW efficiency
 Both Optical & Electrical Multi-degree Options
 One time Node Engineering, GMPLS Control
Plane & True “Point-and-Click” Provisioning
ADM
Mux
Design Networks
in Minutes
West East
1
Up to 16 degrees
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 What is a ROADM?
Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM)

ROADM ROADM
Module 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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 WDM Optical Transport Technology Options

WB Module
Add Filters/
Splitter /
Combiner
Drop filte
rs
O
P
M
2 Degree ROADM
Blocker/IPLC
OPM
with fixed filters

Fixed Port
ROADM
Per 
OEO Regen Optica
Multi-port Mux/Demux
l Switc
(Point-to-point h OPM
DWDM) Multi-Degree WSS
with fixed filters
OPM

Fixed
drops Fixed
Adds

Per  Optical Swit

ch

Multi-port Mux/Demux O Fully Flexible

FOADM P
OPM M 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

Key * Manages all wavelengths

Features: * Lower system cost
MP-WSS
WSS O
* No OEO Pass-thru tax
P
M * Fully Flexible Ports enable:
 Any wavelength to any port
Flexible Flexible Adds
 Supports Tunable lasers
Drops
 Dynamic  Management
1 3 4 5 + 7  Jumper-less provisioning
* Multiple wavelengths/ drop port
ROADM MODULE
 Mesh node capability
 Ring interconnection

Confidential
 Key Technologies used in Core
Reconfigurable Networks

True Point-and-click
Planning & Provisioning
Rapid and End-to-End
Automated Network Management
Planning

Fully Flexible WSS GMPLS

ROADMs Control Plane
Widely Tunable
Fully Automated Lasers
Optical Layer
Integrated Optical Cabling

Integrated Platforms AGC / Transient Controlled

Multi-Service Optical Amplifiers (OAs)
ADM-on-a-blade Cross  Optical Switch
w/ Integrated. Transport Hot- Pluggable
Flexible, Transparent SFPs & XFPs
Optical Interfaces
Ethernet Networking

ROADM Systems provide much more than just Wavelength Reconfigurability

They provide a total “Agile Optical Network” Solution
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 Why do customers like “All optical”
Source
1 2 3 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 1-12
21
All Optical ROADM : 42 Transponders

21 12
1

1
ILA

All OEO or “Digital Transport”: At least 380 Transponders

21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 12
ILA

7  OEO becomes more expensive as the node count goes up

6 (# Regens x # nodes)
Relative Cost, $

5
 OEO becomes more expensive as the number of
4
wavelengths increases (# WL x # Regens x #nodes)
3
2  Use of Analog Optical Amplifiers lowers cost – unless you
1 need to drop traffic
0
All Optical All OEO
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 OEO or ROADM
Which is the better choice?

40 Gb/s
ROADM
Bit Rate

10 Gb/s OEO ROADM

2.5 Gb/s OEO ROADM

2 4 6 8 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) 7

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 Integrated OEO (Digital Transport)
Multi-Service & Investment Protection Issues
Integrated Tx Integrated Rx

10 x 10G  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
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 Multi-degree ROADM or OEO?
Why be forced to choose?
All Optical ROADM Advantages: OEO Advantages:
 Fully Bit Rate Transparent  Sub-Wavelength Switching
1G  10G  100G  Potentially Lower Terminal Costs
 Per wavelength Scaleable (at full capacity)
1  2   . . . 40   Simpler Optical Engineering
 Lower Power  Simpler Multi-Degree Operation
 Fully Automated Optical Layer
 Low Pass-thru costs

Multi-Degree
ROADM Switch

100G
2.5G
2.5G
10G
10G
40G
Per WL OEO
Switch
Multi-Degree
OEO Switching

Digital ROADM
Node
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 Digital ROADM Hybrid Node
Lowest Overall Cost & Flexibility

All Optical
Multi-Degree
ROADM All Optical
ROADM

Per WL

100G
2.5G
2.5G
10G
10G
40G
OEO
Switch

Multi-Degree
Digital
Switching
TR
TR
Digital
ROADM
Node

All Optical
Spur

Maintain manageable regions of transparency

7  Topology Agnostic
6
 Traffic Pattern Agnostic
Relative Cost, $

5
4  Bit Rate Agnostic
3
2  Simpler Optical Engineering
1
 Simpler Multi-Degree Operation
0
All Optical Digital All OEO  Lower overall cost solution
ROADM 10
Hybrid
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 Intelligent Optical & Electrical Switching
Optical Drop
WSS Wavelength
ROADM
(Optical
Switch)

Electrical Electrical
ADM ADM

Cross-WL
Optical Switch
with integrated
WDM
Add Drop/Add
6 GbE 1 GbE Switching Options:
Transponder • Pass Thru Entire Wavelength
with Electrical
ADM Switch • Optically Add/Drop Entire Wavelength
ADM ADM

• Optically Add/Drop Multiple Wavelengths (Multi-degree)

Mux Mux

• 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
MP-WSS
WSS O

 Selection of the right kind of ROADM is crucial to realizing these

P
M

savings (Colorless Port, modular, WSS based ROADMs are the best choice) Flexible
Drops Flexible
Adds

 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

100G
2.5G
2.5G
10G
10G
40G
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Confidential