Strategies and technologies for planning a cost-effective survivable fiber network architecture using optical switches

A one-to-one photonic diverse protection switching architecture is proposed which utilizes optical protection switches to reduce costs for providing one-to-one protection against fiber cable cuts. Optical protection switching deployments are to be supported by planning strategies, engineering strategies, and technology issues. A cost analysis model is presented to evaluate cost/survivability merits for the protection architecture described. Results suggest that the best place to deploy the one-to-one photonic diverse protection architecture in future networks is in spans carrying large DS3 demands, which are usually interhub spans. The proposed protection architecture can be implemented using electronically controlled, low-speed, single-mode fiber mechanical optical switches as photonic protection switches to meet current performance and availability requirements. Emerging technologies could be used in the future to support services requiring higher-speed protection switching.<<ETX>>