by Introduction to Optical Transport Network
An optical transport network (OTN) is a standardized network technology protocol that uses optical fiber to transmit data between multiple nodes in a telecommunications network. It was designed to transport client signals from many protocols, such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET) and Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) using optical technology.
Key Components of an OTN
An OTN consists of multiple key components that work together to transport data using optical fibers.
– Optical Line Terminal (OLT): Located at the edge of the network, the OLT interfaces with client signals and maps them into the OTN frame format for transmission over optical fibers. It performs overhead processing and transmission multiplexing.
– Optical Multiplexer (OMux): The OMux takes lower rate client signals and aggregates them on to higher rate interfaces. It multiples client signals for efficient transmission.
– Optical Cross Connect (OXC): OXCs provide the switching functionality in the network. They can optionally add or drop wavelengths or paths and redirect the optical signals to different output ports for routing in the network.
– Optical Add Drop Multiplexer (OADM): An OADM allows wavelengths or client signals to be added or dropped from a fiber backbone without having to convert the entire trunk to electronic form.
– Optical Channel Transport Unit (OTU): The OTU frame formats the client signals for transmission at defined line rates over different spans of the optical network.
Benefits of Using an Optical Transport Network
There are several key advantages of using an OTN versus traditional WDM networks:
– Protocol transparency: An Optical Transport Network can carry any client payload without having to terminate signals for mapping or adaptation. This allows the network to be future proof.
– Flexibility: OTN flexible grooming allows variable client bandwidth sizes to be mapped efficiently on to larger OTU frames for transmission. Additional clients can be easily added without network upgrades.
– Synchronization: OTNs provide inherent bit and frame synchronization which is critical for mobile backhaul and timing distribution applications.
– Management: OTN frames have an in-built digital wrapper that provides digital performance monitoring tools like BER measurement for quality monitoring and fault isolation.
– Bandwidth efficiency: High capacity OTU frames result in lower operational costs through wavelength consolidation and bandwidth efficiency compared to separate client DWDM wavelengths.
Different Generations of Optical Transport Networks
The OTN standard has evolved over the years to support high speed transmissions to meet growing bandwidth demands:
– First Generation OTNs (OTU1): Introduced line rates of 2.5G, 10G and up to 40G using OTU1 frames based on synchronous transfer signal (STS-1) payloads.
– Second Generation OTNs (OTU2): Defined higher line rates of 100G and above up to 400G using OTU2 frames that could carry multiple 10G OTU1 signals. Maintained full backward compatibility.
– Third Generation OTNs (OTU4): Standardized new higher rates ranging from 10T to 1P using OTU4 frames. Added forward error correction to transport signals over longer reaches while maintaining compatibility with lower rates.
– Fourth Generation OTNs: Being standardized by the IOWN Global Forum to support flexible grid and flexible bandwidth allocation. Targets 1T, 10T and above rates using new flexible OTU techniques.
Future of Optical Transport Networks
OTNs are growing rapidly as 5G infrastructure builds out across the world requiring high bandwidth transport solutions. Some future trends of OTN include:
– Wavelength consolidation: Higher OTU rates up to 1.2Pb/s will allow hundreds of Tb/s to be transported on a single wavelength fiber strand. This will dramatically bring down transport costs.
– Artificial Intelligence: AI/ML algorithms will optimize real-time network resource allocation, reduce power consumption and ensure ultra-low latency for critical applications.
– Flexible/Elastic grids: New flexible grids defined by ITU-T will allow bandwidth to be dynamically allocated only where needed instead of fixed 50GHz grids for better spectral efficiency.
– Interoperability: ONF, MEF and other forums will help define common control plane interfaces so multi-vendor networks can seamlessly interconnect and interwork.
– Disaggregation: Segmenting the optical layer into discrete plug-and-play components like transponders, switch chips, amplifiers will accelerate innovation cycles and reduce total cost of ownership.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
