Optical Switching

                           Explosive information demand in the internet world is creating enormous needs for capacity expansion in next generation telecommunication networks. It is expected that the data- oriented network traffic will double every year. Optical networks are widely regarded as the ultimate solution to the bandwidth needs of future communication systems. Optical fiber links deployed between nodes are capable to carry terabits of information but the electronic switching at the nodes limit the bandwidth of a network. Optical switches at the nodes will overcome this limitation. With their improved efficiency and lower costs, Optical switches provide the key to both manage the new capacity Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) links as well as gain a competitive advantage for provision of new band width hungry services. However, in an optically switched network the challenge lies in overcoming signal impairment and network related parameters. Let us discuss the present status, advantages and challenges and future

trends in optical switches.

Optical switches will switch a wavelength or an entire fiberform one pathway to another, leaving the data-carrying packets in a signal untouched. An electronic signal from electronic processor will set the switch in the right position so that it directs an incoming fiber – or wavelengths within that fiber- to a given output fiber. But none of the wavelengths will be converted to electrons for processing. Optical switching may eventually make obsolete existing lightwave technologies based on the ubiquitous SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) communications standard, which relies on electronics for conversion and processing of individual packets. In tandem with the gradual withering away of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), another phone company standard for packaging information.

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