Chapter 10. Basics of Optical Switching

With improved efficiency and lower costs, optical switching provides the key for carriers to both manage the new capacity that dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) provides and gain a competitive advantage in the recruitment and retention of new customers. However, with two types of optical switches being offered, there is a debate over which type of switch to deploy—intelligent, optical-electrical-optical (OEO) switches, or all-optical, optical-optical-optical (OOO) switches. The real answer is that both switches offer distinct advantages and, by understanding where and when deployment makes sense, carriers can optimize their network and service offerings [1].