Planning of WDM networks: methods, routing node modeling and applications

This paper introduces the wavelength-division multiplexing technique in the transport network. The different optical routing node (F-OXC, λ-OXC with and without wavelength translation) functionalities are defined and criteria to use each of them are proposed. Results are discussed on a real test case based on the Pan-American Optical Network. First, the major benefits of the wavelength translation are underlined and results are presented where only a limited number of nodes with wavelength translation is needed. Second, the advantage of introducing fiber crossconnect to implement the protection scheme at the multiplex level are illustrated