LION: an innovative approach to multi-service business networks

After analyzing of the architecture requirements for multiservice business networks, the authors discuss the local integrated optical network (LION) developed within the Espirit framework. LION is intended as the European solution for the emerging needs of business users. The system adopts a fault-tolerant topology and hybrid multiple-access protocol, allowing excellent throughput performance on the network in every workload condition. Standardization of the basic features of LION is presently under consideration within the European Telecommunication Standard Institute (ETSI). Commercial exploitation of the system, with a focus on applications, and development of a second-generation network is scheduled