Optical networks allow higher speed and greater bandwidth on the network.
The importance of optical networks has been heightened recently with the rapid increase of data traffic on the public networks, fueled by Internet usage. Data now accounts for about 50 percent of the traffic on the telephone networks in North America. In addition, as carriers look to integrate voice, data and imaging over the network, optical networks provide the important bandwidth needed. This enables carriers to deliver advanced business applications to customers at the same time as reducing the overall cost of network ownership. More than 75 percent of all backbone Internet traffic in North America is carried on Nortel Networks optical equipment.