PHOTONET WDM Supervision

Abstract

An all optical field trial network, named PHOTONET, is described. It employs a star topology with one optical cross connect. Multi-channel signals assembled by wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) are transported over more than 500 km of standard single mode fibre installed in the field. Erbium doped fibre amplifiers and dispersion compensating fibres will balance attenuation and, partially, pulse shape distortion along the links. To demonstrate the service of the network, that is the transport of high bit rate data streams, equipment will be connected to the optical network using 2.5 Gbit/s signals of the synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH). Additionally, newly developed equipment for 10 Gbit/s SDH signals will be employed.

WDM supervision described here is a set of functions necessary for the operation, administration and maintenance of the future optical network. It will be implemented in the field trial. For that purpose the optical network is partitioned into three layers. The characteristic information for the signals transported by these layers is allocated. Signal supervision, defect detection and maintenance signals are discussed.

An outlook is presented, describing a planned extension of the field trial. This will result in a meshed network with three optical cross connects managed by a network management platform. The expected outcome is described being successful demonstration of all network relevant aspects, an impact for the design of future all optical networks, and an field based experimental framework where new approaches and components for optical networks can be tested in the field.