Optical packet switching networks

Optical packet switching techniques have been studied for many years and many feasibility experiments have demonstrated the viability of this technology at different areas of the network. In this paper an analysis of the optical technology potential in different network areas: metro access, metro core and backbone, is carried out. But the slow emergence of an integrated and available optical fast technology and a lack of standards is a brake for its introduction on the market place. In a society more and more user-centric approach, it becomes then urgent to raise the bottlenecks of a full electronic technologies and to propose hybrid architectures combining optics and electronics to reach all the specifications of the next generation of networks. So in this paper, after a status on optical packet switching techniques, after raising the needs in the metro and backbone areas, concrete solutions will be proposed, and more important some key catalysts for a rapid introduction will be addressed. Finally the paper will give the important steps to cross to really take this technological corner.