The optical exchange-network architectures

Gives a brief overview of the requirements of optical interconnections within the BT exchange environment. The exchange interconnection infrastructure of the future will need to meet the demands of the emergence of new technology at an ever increasing pace. Already in the trunk network environment new synchronous optical fibre systems are being proposed only a short time after the realization of the digital trunk systems. The date work has identified the limitations of current single-mode technology in this area and the inadequacies of current equipment and interconnection practice. Some of the problem areas are being successfully tackled, i.e., the development of optical backplanes, the investigation of synchronous passive optical networks and the development of multifibre technology. However to meet the future needs of the exchange environment work needs to be undertaken in the area of transmitting and receiving arrays, tunable optical components, WDM devices, low cost single-mode multifibre backplane connectors and optical pcbs. Although less visible than the local loop the in-station environment is a sizable market for optical communications and will pose a number of unique technological challenges for systems and components designers in the future