Value-added services in next-generation SONET/SDH networks - [Topics in optical communications]

Abstract

Advances in next-generation SONET/SDH have introduced novel features for generic protocol framing/encapsulation, virtual concatenation, inverse multiplexing, dynamic circuit adjustment, and so on. In turn, these provisions have enabled much improved multi-tiered service provisioning and are viewed very favorably by carriers, particularly incumbents. This article looks at this evolved framework with a particular focus on value-added services creation. Results from a sample performance evaluation study also are presented to quantify some of the achievable gains.