Optical technologies, systems and networks-Design of broadband networks using electro-optic switching technology

A telecom network is partitioned as a hierarchy of interconnected nodes. Their function and location and the structure of the transmission multiplex between them can be optimized for a variety of objectives. The authors consider an arbitrary arrangement to highlight potential classes of switching applications and the salient features and constraints of devices in a broadband digital network, i.e. with the capability to handle traffic of different channel rates from 64 kb/s to 140 Mb/s and transmission bit rates above 1 Gb/s. They also examine the applications of lithium niobate switches in the network, which represents the most mature technology available.<>