Exploring the potentials of GMPLS for future applications

Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching, or GMPLS, is a suite of protocols to enable automated resource discovery, automated service provisioning and automated failure recovery. Driven by the benefit of improved network reliability (through protection or fast failure recovery) and reduced network OPEX, an increasing amount of GMPLS enabled networks are now being deployed in metro area and even in national backbones. In the short run, the deployment of such networks will enable network operators to provide new value added services such as Bandwidth on Demand (BoD) with a reduced OPEX. In the long run, GMPLS networks have the potential of carrying a big variety of services. In this article we try to highlight the current status in the research community and the challenges for such a trend.