Availability modelling for flexible optical access networks (FON)

To satisfy the data rate and quality of service demands of business customers, France Telecom has launched a nationwide programme of connection to flexible optical access networks (FON). FON can be used to convey all the services of a single office building (single or multiple customers) on point-to-point or point-to-multipoint optical bearers, at bit rates of 34 or 140 Mbit/s. The reliability study described in the paper has enabled the authors to evaluate the effect of protection solutions on the dependability indicators (failure rate and unavailability) and, at the same time, steer the marketing approach towards cost-effective, reliable solutions