Applications including Ethernet and cloud connect services, fixed broadband aggregation, mobile backhaul, and SONET/SDH migration are driving network operators to deploy both WDM optical transport and packet transport technologies. And while the case for both of these technologies is compelling, a key question facing network operators is whether to deploy packet transport and WDM-based optical technologies as two separate platforms or as a single converged platform.
While proponents of separate platforms might argue that this approach better enables best-in-class technology at each layer or that it avoids the waste of using backplane-enabled slots for optical modules, the case for a converged platform, which at a minimum integrates packet switching technology with full featured WDM interfaces and WDM technology including ROADM, is becoming increasingly compelling in terms of CapEx savings, OpEx savings, and faster time to revenue.
Reduced CapEx
By integrating the packet and optical layers into the same network element with full featured WDM interfaces on the packet hardware, short-reach interconnects between the packet switch and the transponder/muxponder in the DWDM equipment and the transponders/muxponders themselves can be eliminated. Consolidating packet switching and DWDM into the same shelf can reduce the cost of common equipment including the shelves, control processors, fans, and power supplies resulting in an overall CapEx savings of up to 25%.
Reduced OpEx
By eliminating the need for separate transponders/muxponders and consolidating DWDM modules and packet switching in the same shelf, the total footprint required can be reduced substantially relative to separate systems. For example, rather than deploying two 5RU shelves, one for optical and one for packet, a single 5RU shelf could be deployed with footprint savings of 50%, though 30% may be a more typical figure for less simplistic scenarios. Likewise, the elimination of transponders and short-reach interconnects together with a reduction in common equipment can have a similar impact on power consumption with reductions of up to 40%.
A converged platform further reduces operational costs with fewer network elements to install, manage, and maintain. This is especially true where a single multi-layer network management system can provide end-to-end service discovery, provisioning, and troubleshooting with consistent tools and workflows across both packet and optical transport technologies.
Increased Revenues
Converged packet optical can also deliver increased revenues by offering faster time to revenue, improving customer retention, facilitating new customer wins, and enabling new services. Revenues for new services and customers can be realized months sooner with faster installation and service provisioning. Time to service readiness can also be a key factor in winning new customers and retaining existing ones. Finally, packet optical may enable new service offerings in terms of service speeds (i.e., 100GE), scope (EVPLAN, E-Tree, etc.), and/or geographic coverage, depending on the current network architecture and service offerings.
For more information on this important topic, download the new Coriant white paper The Case for Converged Packet Optical Platforms.
Topics: downtime, high availability, protection, resiliency