Title :
Africa ONE: the Africa Optical Network
Author :
Marra, William C. ; Schesser, Joel
Author_Institution :
AT&T Bell Labs., Holmdel, NJ, USA
fDate :
2/1/1996 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Describes the architecture of the Africa Optical Network (Africa ONE) that will encircle the entire continent of Africa with an undersea fiber optic ring network. Using a combination of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) multiplex and cross-connect equipment, Africa ONE brings together a unique blend of technology to achieve network robustness. The article traces the need for this regional network and how it fits into the global undersea communications network. Also the authors describe the network elements that make up the transmission topology, the methodology used for interconnecting each African country to this network, protection and restoration of the network, and the network management system. Africa-ONE is a 40,000 km trunk and branch network that is planned to be ready for service in 1999. The present article presents the architecture of the undersea portion of the Africa-ONE project
Keywords :
multiplexing equipment; optical communication equipment; optical fibre networks; submarine cables; synchronous digital hierarchy; telecommunication network management; telecommunication network reliability; wavelength division multiplexing; Africa ONE; Africa Optical Network; architecture; country; cross-connect equipment; global undersea communications network; multiplex equipment; network management system; network robustness; protection; regional network; restoration; synchronous digital hierarchy; transmission topology; undersea fiber optic ring network; wavelength-division multiplexing; Africa; Communication networks; Continents; Network topology; Optical fiber networks; Optical fibers; Protection; Robustness; Synchronous digital hierarchy; Wavelength division multiplexing;
Journal_Title :
Communications Magazine, IEEE
