Oct. 30, 2001--Astral Point Communications (Chelmsford, MA) unveiled a modular passive optical system today for its ON SONET 7000 node to optimize transmission of DWDM optical wavelengths in metro and regional networks, allowing carriers to only pay for DWDM capabilities currently required. When demand increases, carriers can quickly and inexpensively increase capacity.
The OA 500 Modular Optical System, comprised of a series of multiplexer and filter component, enables carriers to install and easily expand the level of DWDM services offered on each ON 7000 SONET node. Each OA 500 is expandable from 4 to 32 optical wavelengths with a 64-wavelength capacity version under development. The system uses a banded DWDM optical architecture, where bundles of light are added and dropped from the network path to minimize insertion loss on channels expressing through the node. The bundles are then multiplexed or demultiplexed into usable wavelengths for delivery to or from the active node.
With a switch fabric that scales from 320 Gbits/sec to 1.28 terabits, and interfaces that scales from DS-1 to OC-768, the ON 7000 SONET node is expected to meet carrier metro and regional inter-office transport needs for several years.