Major changes are in store for next-generation optical networks.
This probably won't stabilize until the end of 2001, at least. As the capabilities of photonic switches expand, and carriers grow more familiar with managing networks at the photonic level, use of these adapter cards can be reduced, and even eliminated. To make this work, the authors point out that improvements are needed in wavelength conversion, all-optical regeneration, and optical performance monitoring, as well as more efficient bandwidth conservation in protection switching. Surprisingly, interoperability isn't the first concern of most providers, according to their suppliers. The emerging vendors in this space will want to keep things that way, with new players and aggressive start-ups looking to leverage the standards approach to gain a foothold, says Fryer.