| Abstract: | This article discusses the evolution of Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) towards support for shared packet media, particularly in light of new developments in the control plane, such as Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) and the (UNI) specification. Whereas the current SONET network is largely static and circuitcentered, and typically supports DS-1 and DS-3-level granularities, the emerging packet-centric, GMPLS-controlled optical network will be significantly more dynamic, and characterized by concatenated or virtually concatenated payloads such as STS-3c/12c/48c/192c, and, possibly, STS-1-24v (i.e., 'STS-24c'). In this environment, it will be shown that the differences between such packet-centric SONET networks and 'IP over Optical' network architectures begin to disappear. |
