Agile Optical Switch: Basics and Functions

This page explains the basics of an Agile Optical Switch and its function within a fiber optic system. An optical switch, in essence, handles the switching of different wavelengths across optical cross-connects.

When selecting an optical switch, two key parameters should be considered:

• The switching time
• The number of ports

Agile optical switches are used to dynamically reconfigure DWDM networks. This enhancement is beneficial for triple-play service deployments and enables advanced wavelength applications at a reduced cost.

Agile Optical Network

This type of network is known as an Agile Optical Network. The figure above illustrates a typical Agile Optical Network. As shown, this type of optical network is a dynamically reconfigurable DWDM network.

It utilizes ROADM (Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop MUX), which changes the switch fabric and allows for reconfigurable optical bypass. Optical Amplifiers, specifically EDFA (Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier), mitigate any fiber path loss as well as optical switch losses.

MSPP (Multi-Service Provisioning Platform) provides protection for SONET (Synchronous Optical Networking) and Data Services. Transponders and Muxponders, equipped with tunable lasers, offer service adaptation to different wavelengths within the network.

Fiber chromatic dispersion is compensated in every node of the Agile Optical Network.