Nortel introduced advanced, next-generation features for its optical network solutions that make it possible for service providers and cable operators to more rapidly and affordably deliver dynamic, high-bandwidth content and application-based services such as video on demand.

These new features address customers' increasing requirements for more adaptive, intelligent, all-optical networks, and represent a significant step forward in addressing operational expense reduction and service delivery velocity requirements for the deployment of dynamic 'on demand' and bandwidth-intensive services. Nortel estimates that its new features can result in savings of up to 55 percent in operating costs for service providers.Integration of these next generation features into our optical solutions enables remote delivery of any wavelength with any service to any location at any time without the need for intensive optical planning or engineering," said Philippe Morin, general manager, Optical Networks, Nortel. "We are excited to help service providers and cable operators implement an intelligent, adaptive optical network to support introduction of the disruptive new services their customers demand."

New core features to Nortel's optical portfolio include enhanced Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexing (eROADM) functionality to enable reduced costs associated with redirecting wavelengths, and electronic Dynamically Compensating Optics (eDCO) to extend wavelength distances while enabling reduced network planning and engineering costs. Both of these new features are supported by the Domain Optical Controller (DOC), an end-to-end intelligent provisioning and management software platform.
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The eROADM is a functional module included in Nortel's 40Gbps-ready Common Photonic Layer (CPL) platform, employing wavelength-selective switching (WSS) to enable all-optical switching and redirection of a wavelength to up to five different rings in the network. This limits the need for costly fiber interconnection points with optical-to-electrical-to-optical (OEO) conversions, and creates more simplicity and flexibility in managing wavelengths across the network.

Nortel's new eDCO functionality, first introduced on Optical Multiservice Edge (OME) 6500, complements and enables increased benefits of the eROADM module by providing increased automation when deploying new or redirected optical wavelengths. Traditionally, redirecting individual wavelengths to a new network path required extensive planning and reengineering of the optical line to ensure proper power levels and modulation adjusted for the new path. eDCO capabilities in OME 6500 enable the platform to dynamically adjust the modulation of individual wavelengths when they are redirected to a new path, over a different fiber type, or over a longer distance. In addition, eDCO enables fiber spans of up to 2,000 kilometers as well as tunable lasers for reduced sparing requirements.