Introduction to Optical Networks
Devi Chadha · 2019
This chapter describes the demand of communication traffic and the need for an optical fiber network to meet the high-bandwidth, large area network to support all types of new and flexible services. The networks were classified in terms of geographical reach: the local area network, the metropolitan area networks, and the wide area network, and the two generations. The first-generation wavelength division multiplexing networks use optical fiber as a replacement for copper cable to get higher capacities. The second-generation networks use the other characteristics of the fiber to provide circuit-switched light paths by routing and switching wavelengths inside the network. The chapter also introduces the different network architectures, traffic types, connections, services, types of switching, and the network layered abstractions. Finally, it presents an overview of this book. The book covers basic concepts of traffic types in optical network topologies which are more generic.