ROADM Towards a Fully Flexible DWDM

Network

Horsebridge Network Systems Ltd, 1 Pate Court, North Place, Cheltenham, GL50 4DY England.
Tel:+44 (0)1242 530630 Fax: +44 (0) 1242 530660 E-Mail info@horsebridge.net www.horsebridge.net
ROADM Towards a Fully Flexible DWDM Network
White Paper
December, 2008

© Copyright by ECI Telecom, 2008. All rights reserved worldwide.

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 CONTENTS

Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................... 5
ROADM Overview............................................................................................................ 6
ROADM Technologies Primer ....................................................................................... 7
Pluggable ROADM .................................................................................................. 7
Remotely Reconfigurable ROADM ....................................................................... 8
Broadcast and Select............................................................................ 8
PLC ......................................................................................................... 9
Dynamic Reconfigurable ROADM ........................................................................ 9
Wavelength Selective Switch............................................................... 9
ECI Telecom ROADM Value Proposition ................................................................... 11
Cost-Optimized ROADM Solutions..................................................................... 11
Third-Generation WSS ROADM ......................................................... 11
B&S-Based ROADM ............................................................................ 12
Pluggable ROADM .............................................................................. 12
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 13
About ECI Telecom ....................................................................................................... 14

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CONTENTS

List of Figures
Figure 1: Pluggable ROADM block diagram in standby and active modes .................... 7
Figure 2: WB-based ROADM ........................................................................................... 8
Figure 3: PLC based ROADM .......................................................................................... 9
Figure 4: WSS-based ROADM architecture................................................................... 10
Figure 5: Typical WSS ROADM application................................................................... 12

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 INTRODUCTION

Introduction
Over the last decade, DWDM technology has gained wider acceptance in long-haul
and metro networks, despite the lack of cost-effective flexible wavelength
management capabilities.
Fixed filter technology has been used to implement wavelength provisioning
methods. Wavelength connection is accomplished by using wavelength-specific
filters, typically adding and dropping up to four random channels or groups of four
adjacent channels. Changes to the connectivity pattern can become extremely
complicated and labor-intensive, resulting in extensive capital layout. In addition,
the manual reconfiguration process is often traffic-affecting, requiring field
technicians to be dispatched at all hours of the day and night. In extreme situations
when networks operate close to their technological limitations, long and expensive
re-engineering of the entire network is often necessary.
Clearly, when used in applications like typical metro networks where traffic
patterns and growth rates fluctuate, the fixed filter architecture is very costly to
provision, deploy, and maintain.
A fully flexible DWDM network is the solution and this is now possible due to
Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) technology. Although
ROADM prices were prohibitive when they first hit the market, the components
have matured and proliferated to a point where implementation is not only a
valuable enhancement but significantly more affordable.
This paper surveys various ROADM technologies and network architectures
(including general requirement and planning considerations for service providers),
and highlights the ECI Telecom approach to implementing a fully flexible DWDM
network.

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ROADM OVERVIEW

ROADM Overview
The introduction of ROADM technologies offers service providers greater
flexibility by providing any wavelength to any node connectivity (known as "any-
to-any") without the need to predefine traffic demands. In addition, unlimited
changes can be made to already deployed wavelengths. As a result, service
providers now benefit from:
„ Simplified network design and implementation with lower operating expenses
„ Limitless wavelength deployment for faster setup of wavelength services
„ Simple reconfiguration of operating wavelengths to meet changes in traffic
demands
„ Reduced cost of inventory management
Reconfigurable DWDM networks use one of the following ROADM technologies:
„ Pluggable ROADM - this technology uses fixed OADM filters and optical
switches to enable remote activation and deactivation of predefined
wavelengths. Single or four-wavelength modules set the operating lambdas. As
traffic demands change, they can be replaced by the operator without affecting
the express traffic. This extremely low cost technology is optimal for sites that
are not likely to change often during the network life cycle.
„ Remotely reconfigurable ROADM - this approach uses a first generation
electromechanical switch, second generation wavelength blocker subsystems,
or Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) subsystems in a Broadcast and Select
(B&S) architecture, and offers access to each and every wavelength in the
network. Ports are allocated for each specific wavelength. The operator is
required to connect the colored transmit and receive interfaces of the
transponders or colored line cards to specific ports that support the required
wavelength. This ROADM technology is cost effective at sites with a large
number of dropped wavelengths (typically 50% or more), and reserves
Reshaping, Reamplification, and Retiming (3R) regeneration for express
traffic.
„ Dynamic Reconfigurable ROADM (D-ROADM) - this advanced
third-generation technology uses Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS)
subsystems with four or eight add/drop ports. Each wavelength or combination
of wavelengths can be dropped remotely at any port, enabling the operator to
connect any service to any port. Apart from operating in ring topologies, D-
ROADM supports multiring closure and hub and spoke configurations. D-
ROADMs are cost optimal for sites with a small number of add/drop ports,
typically four to eight, and are scalable to full DWDM capacity. WSS-based
ROADMs can also provide solutions for full mesh networks.

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 ROADM TECHNOLOGIES PRIMER

ROADM Technologies Primer

Pluggable ROADM
A pluggable ROADM can be programmed to operate in standby and in active
modes. In standby mode, the “express switch” connects the line inputs to the
outputs; in active mode, the switch connects the line interfaces via the OADM
add/drop unit. The switch is operated remotely via the network management
system. To prevent traffic failures triggered by accidental module extraction, the
switch is automatically set to the bypass mode when the OADM module is not
present.

Figure 1: Pluggable ROADM block diagram in standby and active modes

OADM units operate with predefined wavelengths (as do fixed OADMs) and
support one channel, four random channels, and bands of four adjacent channels.
This low-cost solution is most suitable for sites which drop a small number of
wavelengths and are not likely to change often.
The main advantage of the pluggable ROADM solution is its extremely low
'day-one' costs, even when compared to fixed OADM solutions. The initial
investment is just the low-cost basecard. The corresponding OADM unit is not
purchased until the add/drop requirements are determined. At that point, the unit
can be installed in the basecard and the optical switch can be changed to add/drop
the channels via the management system. With the unique random OADM
configuration, operators can choose any combination of channels to add/drop at the
site, thus expanding wavelength connectivity between sites.

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ROADM TECHNOLOGIES PRIMER

Remotely Reconfigurable ROADM

Broadcast and Select

The figure shows the block diagram of a typical B&S architecture using
Wavelength Blocker (WB) technology for remote operation of the site. A demux
unit that enables access to all wavelengths is connected to the DWDM line using a
splitter at the input to the site. Each wavelength is dropped via a specific
color-dependent port. The WB unit is remotely configured to block (attenuate) the
specific wavelengths that are dropped at the site. The added channels are connected
to a mux unit and back on to the line via the output coupler.
B&S architecture does not provide dynamic wavelength provisioning in that both
drop and add channels are wavelength dependent. This limitation is sometimes
overcome with an additional M x N optical switch (M = number of dropped
channels; N = number of DWDM channels in the network). However, this
capability induces additional cost and adds management complexity to the solution.

Figure 2: WB-based ROADM

Nonetheless, B&S architecture is optimal for sites with a large number of dropped
channels, typically over 16. Its main benefit is that it saves 3R regeneration for
express traffic at hub sites.
A WB-based ROADM should also provide optical power equalization and power
monitoring. The WB is equipped with monitoring taps and a Variable Optical
Attenuator (VOA) per channel, enabling the operator to monitor each express
channel. Together with monitoring points and VOAs on added channels, full
control over the optical power per channel is achieved.

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 ROADM TECHNOLOGIES PRIMER

PLC
An alternative technology for realizing the B&S architecture, PLC utilizes Array
Waveguide Grating (AWG) multiplexers and demultiplexers and arrays of 2 x 2
switches to control the add/drop or pass-through wavelengths.
The following figure shows a block diagram of a typical PLC B&S architecture.
An AWG demux unit is connected to the DWDM line at the input to the site. Each
wavelength is connected to a remotely configured 2 x 2 switch that allows the
channel either to pass through or to be added/dropped to specific input/output
ports. The added channels are connected to an AWG mux and back on to the line
via the output coupler. Built-in attenuators are remotely configured to allow
equalization of the add channels.

Figure 3: PLC based ROADM

Dynamic Reconfigurable ROADM

Wavelength Selective Switch

In this architecture, the WSS ROADM is equipped with two line ports (line in and
line out) and four or eight add/drop ports. This type of ROADM enables fully
dynamic remote reconfiguration.
On the drop side, the WSS connects all wavelengths to the output (line) port. The
operator can remotely switch any wavelength to any other port. Consequently, one
or more wavelengths may be dropped at any given port and at any time. On the add
side, wavelengths from all add ports and the line-in port are switched and
multiplexed into the line-out port.
WSS enables any service to be dropped at any port - hence the term “colorless”
ports. Furthermore, as multiple wavelengths can be dropped via each port, WSS
can connect subtending (access) rings to the core ring and drop multiple
wavelengths at remote sites, including star or full mesh topologies.

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ROADM TECHNOLOGIES PRIMER

Figure 4: WSS-based ROADM architecture

WSS is optimal for sites with a small number of services, typically four or eight. Its
relatively high cost (compared to pluggable ROADM) positions it at sites that are
likely to change often, or which have unpredictable day-one traffic.
WSS scalability for more than eight channels is achieved by cascading WSSs
where a second WSS is connected to one of the drop ports on the first WSS.

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 ECI TELECOM ROADM VALUE PROPOSITION

ECI Telecom ROADM Value Proposition

The Optical Networks Division at ECI Telecom is a leading provider of intelligent
multiservice metro transport and switching solutions. Well into its second decade
of global optical networking experience, ECI Telecom offers advanced platforms
that combine instant provisioning with on-demand network scalability.
The flagship XDM® family of products provides the building blocks for scalable
intelligent optical networks using a single-architecture approach, and features a
complete range of shelves, each optimized for the widest set of applications and
configurations.

Cost-Optimized ROADM Solutions

Fully flexible networks can save OPEX and simplify management and control, as
well as shorten the provisioning time of new services. Nevertheless, operators are
still hesitant to deploy advanced ROADMs. This is due to the seemingly
substantial CAPEX outlay currently needed for their implementation.
With the first extensive deployments of ROADMs expected in 2006, economies of
scale will reduce prices of ROADM components, further facilitating
implementation of fully flexible DWDM networks.
The ECI Telecom approach is to supply a mix of ROADM solutions to provide
operators with cost-optimized DWDM flexibility. This enhanced mix includes:
„ Software-reconfigurable ROADMs at critical sites, including:
„ Third-generation WSS ROADM
„ B&S-based ROADM
„ Pluggable ROADMs at most sites

Third-Generation WSS ROADM

WSS ROADM is the preferred technology to provide:
„ Colorless operation - any channel to any port
„ Full n-degree operation for multiple ring, subtended ring, star, and full mesh
topologies
„ Low insertion loss for through channels

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ECI TELECOM ROADM VALUE PROPOSITION

The following figure shows a typical WSS ROADM application providing full
inter-ring connectivity between C/DWDM access rings and the metro DWDM
backbone, plus local add/drops at the ROADM node.

Figure 5: Typical WSS ROADM application

The ECI Telecom WSS ROADM implementation is fully integrated in the XDM
shelves with "all-range" regional and metro amplifiers, and provides operators with
a complete managed and flexible DWDM, SDH/SONET, and Layer 1/Layer 2
solution. All channels are fully monitored and managed by the Lightsoft® network
management software.

B&S-Based ROADM
The B&S-based ROADM is optimized for hub sites with a large number
(maximum 40) of add/drop channels. Similar to the WSS, the B&S ROADM has
built-in metro amplifiers or can be integrated with regional amplifiers.

Pluggable ROADM
Available for over two years and already deployed in many sites worldwide, the
pluggable ROADM is the most cost-effective solution for sites requiring four to
eight channel add/drops.

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 CONCLUSION

Conclusion
An increasing need for capacity and flexibility in DWDM networks experienced by
operators is the main driver in the development and deployment of ROADM
solutions. These systems provide full management of wavelength services while
reducing OPEX. The fast implementation of new revenue-generating services thus
becomes greatly simplified and cost-effective.
ECI Telecom provides a comprehensive suite of ROADM solutions tailored to
operators' needs:
„ Third-generation WSS ROADM advanced technology for full inter-ring
connectivity between access rings and the metro backbone
„ B&S ROADM optimized for hub sites
„ Pluggable ROADM - the solution for 4-8 channel OADM sites that gives the
most value for the investment
Integrated in the XDM and fully managed by the Lightsoft network manager, the
suite of ROADM options provides operators with the most cost-effective flexible
multiservice optical solution available today for metro, regional, and long-haul
networks.

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ABOUT ECI TELECOM

About ECI Telecom

ECI Telecom is a leading global provider of intelligent infrastructure, offering
platforms and solutions tailored to meet the escalating demands of tomorrow's
services. Our comprehensive 1NHW approach defines ECI’s total focus on optimal
transition to Next-Generation Networks, through the unique combination of
innovative and multi-functional network equipment, fully integrated solutions and
all-around services.
For more information, please visit http://www.ecitele.com.

14 ECI Telecom Ltd. Proprietary

 1Net defines ECI’s total focus on facilitating our customers' optimal transition
to Next-Generation Networks, through the unique combination of innovative and
multi-functional network equipment, fully integrated solutions and all-around services

Horsebridge Network Systems Ltd, 1 Pate Court, North Place, Cheltenham, GL50 4DY England.
Tel:+44 (0)1242 530630 Fax: +44 (0) 1242 530660 E-Mail info@horsebridge.net www.horsebridge.net