A critical analysis of the possible cost savings of translucent networks

Translucent optical networks are considered an interesting option for future optical transport networks instead of opaque optical networks. The translucent architecture does not require an OEO conversion at each optical node, but only when the signal is too degraded. Nevertheless a translucent optical network requires higher performance devices, to ensure a minimum number of OEO conversions. In previous studies, translucent optical networks have always proven to be an economically interesting alternative. But the prices of OEO devices have significantly dropped; so down to which point translucent networks are still economically attractive? Asked in another way, up to which point the extra cost of the high performance devices used by translucent networks is lower than the cost of OEO devices in opaque networks? In this paper it is shown that translucent networks, for current traffic volumes, are not yet very attractive; these networks are advantageous for increasing traffic volume and for system reach covering about half of the connection length distribution. Future evolution of system prices is examined to foresee when translucent networks may become economically attractive.