Switchless Optical Network for Advanced Transport Architecture
April 1998 – December 1999
AC-351
The main objective of SONATA is to define and demonstrate a single-layer network platform for end-to-end optical connections between a large number of terminals for business and residential customers. Time and wavelength-agility at terminals will be heavily exploited simplifying the network structure to only a single node providing passive routing functions and, optionally, actively controlled wavelength conversion. By eliminating the need for complex nodes within the network, this non-traditional approach will offer an effective and viable solution for the realisation of high capacity all-optical networks, easily able to cope with the predicted traffic increase generated by the new future telecommunication services. The advantages of this “switchless” network will be fully investigated and evaluated at the technical, management and economic levels, by means of system studies and modelling, component development, laboratory experiments and implementation of network demonstrators.