Restoration of fiber networks: a comparison of ring versus route diversity

The author discusses Northern Telecom´s solutions to the catastrophic failure of the network. These solutions are provided by survivable ring system and route diversity systems. These systems and their ability to protect the network against failure of the site and failure of the outside plant are compared. It is concluded that although specific applications will dictate the type of system that is needed, the ring systems seem to have the most benefits as they can recover from a site failure. It is suggested that this fact alone should sway most planners to the concept of ring as opposed to route diversity