Sonet rings
Sprint Corp., Kansas City, MO, has completed its first coast-to-coast (New York to San Francisco) telecommunications route using multiple interconnected rings of fiber-optic cable to safeguard its network. In the event of a cut cable or electronics failure, the synchronous optical network rings can reroute service in approximately 60 milliseconds. With its new Sonet system, the company has increased its number of lines to four instead of one or two. Even if all four fibers are severed anywhere on the network, calls are sent instantly in the opposite direction around the ring to avoid disruption.
Also, Sprint Corp. and Alcatel Network Systems, Richardson, TX, have completed an 1800-mile, 4-fiber, bidirectional line-switched ring through Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. This ring serves Sprint customers in New York City, Buffalo, NY, Springfield, MA, and Akron, OH.