Restoration strategies for future networks

The prospect of broadband telecommunication networks loaded with massive quantities of information due to the wide range of services being supported stimulates extra concern for network survivability. As the effect of span or node failures could be drastic, rapid restoration strategies are imperative. This paper describes restoration techniques involving the control of digital crossconnect systems, and the exploitation of spare capacity which has been economically planned into the network. This represents a more extensive approach to survivability than straightforward protection switching, thus improving network reliability