R-OADMs From the Core to the Edge

SUMMARY

Overview

ROADMs are systems that allow the very flexible, remote selection of wavelengths transiting a given intermediate node on a fiber network for dropping and/or adding. They allow access to any of the wavelengths going through a node (or, in more limited ROADM implementations, access to a set of the transiting wavelengths) for use of the data on the chosen wavelength and the possibility of adding to, or modifying, the data on that wavelength for transmitting it on to the next node(s). They also allow the interconnection of multiple intersecting networks (multiple-degree nodes) at the optical level, avoiding the expense and complexity of OEO conversions to achieve the interconnection. The device offers the promise of substantial savings in operational costs, and many operational benefits.

Now in nearly mid-2008, the ROADM has become a standard part of long-haul networks - to be included as a matter of course in any new network - and they have become a major update objective for existing networks. They have also become important to metro networks. Now the application that is driving cost savings is the use of low-cost ROADMs on the edge of the network. (See the material on Nistica, particularly, and others in the Systems Vendors' section.) In addition to the maturity of application, ROADMs have also developed a third-generation technology base - the wavelength selective switch (WSS) - that has quickly become the "gold standard."

Our focus for this report is the edge ROADM. There are forecasts (probably the first available anywhere), application sketches, complete vendor coverage, technology discussions, etc - all aimed at the edge ROADM. While the edge ROADM is our focus, the report also contains a complete update on all aspects of core and metro ROADMs, as well - including forecasts (with component forecast separately provided), application information, full technology discussions, and complete vendor information.

This is the author's fifth major report on ROADMs since 2002 - all part of the Lightwave Series of Reports brought to you by Information Gatekeepers. The author has also written a number of reports on ROADM components (also from IGI) and has consulted extensively on ROADMs.

Report Features

• Comprehensive coverage of ROAM types and development history
  • Coverage of four generations of ROADMs
  • Including WSS and Edge ROADM
• One of the first reports to ever cover Edge ROADMs - includes application descriptions; quantity, price and market forecasts; vendors; and technologies
• Authoritative discussion of ROADM applications
• Description of advantages of ROADMs
• Identification and discussion of market drivers
• Full description of the forecasting methodology used in the report
• Description of underlying technologies of ROADMs
• Exhaustive listing of vendors - vendors' lists and discussions, separated into Component Vendors and System Vendors, all highlighting most current products
• Extensive forecasts for ROADMs:
  • By type
  • By region (USA and world)
  • By system quantities
  • By market dollar volume
• Extensive forecasts for ROADM components and subassemblies:
  • Components forecasts in same detail as Systems
  • Nine different components included.
• Report has over 200 pages
• Report has over 90 figures - drawings, tables, and graphs, all exclusive to this report
• Extensive Appendixes to provide in-depth understanding of the technology and its antecedents
• By an author with extensive consulting experience in the field and the author of six other major ROADM reports - Clifford R. Holliday.
• From the Lightwave Series of consistent, compatible reports on the new Lightwave Network!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF FIGURES

THE LIGHTWAVE NETWORK SERIES OF REPORTS

• The Lightwave Network
• The Lightwave Series of Reports
  • General Reports on the Network
  • General Market Reports
  • Specific Systems Reports
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• INTRODUCTION
• This Report
• Achieving SONET-like Control in Optical Networks

DEFINING ROADMS

• Types of ROADMs
  • Pre-RoADM Approach - OXC-Based Approach to ROADMs
  • First Generation ROADM - PLC-Based ROADMs
    • Colorless vs. Colored Ports
    • Other Names
    • Benefits and Problems with PLC ROADMs
    • Vendors of PLC ROADMs
  • The Second-Generation ROADM - Blocker-Based ROADMs
    • Other Names
    • Alternative Designs for Blockers
    • Problems with Blocker-based ROADMs
    • Vendors of Blocker ROADMs
  • Third-Generation ROADM - Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS)
    • Other Names
    • Vendors of WSS ROADMs
    • Problems and Benefits of WSS ROADMs
  • Fourth-Generation ROADMS - Edge ROADM (ER)
  • Vendors of Edge ROADMs
• Summary of ROADM Features by Utilization
• Summary of ROADM Types by Generation
• Summary of ROADM Description
  • The advantages of ROADMs

ROADM APPLICATIONS

• Degree-two Node Applications
  • Typical EDFA (Amplifier) Site Replacement
• Degree-three and Multiple-degree Applications
  • Approaches to the New RBOC-IXC Merged Network Examples
• The WSS Solution to Joining Rings
• Edge ROADM Applications

ROADM MARKET DRIVERS AND FORECASTS

• Market Drivers
  • Opex Savings
  • Capex Savings
  • The RBOC-IXC Merger Driver
    • OAM&P Software
  • Wavelength Services
  • IPTV Networks
  • Vendors of the IPTV Networks
    • AT&T
    • Verizon
    • Comcast
  • Edge Applications - the New ROADM Driver
• Market Forecast
  • Forecast Methodology
    • Model for Forecast Core and Metro ROADMs
      • Assumptions of Model
    • Model for Forecast - Edge ROADMs
• Systems
  • Systems - US Forecast
  • US Edge ROADMs
• US Market Forecast
• Systems - World Forecast
  • World System Forecast
  • World Edge Systems Forecast
  • World Market Forecast
• Components
  • Assumptions for Component Forecasts
  • Pricing for Components
• Components - US Forecast
  • Blocker US Market Forecast
  • Mux/Demux US Market Forecast
  • Tunable Laser US Market Forecast
  • Tunable Filters US Market Forecast
  • Switch Points US Forecast
  • Monitor Points US Market Forecast
  • WSS Units US Market
  • Total Components US Market Forecast
  • Total Components US Market Forecast
• Components - Global Forecast
  • Blockers Global Market Forecast
  • Mux/Demux Global Market Forecast
  • Tunable Laser Global Market Forecast
  • Tunable Filter Global Market Forecast
  • Switch Points Global Market Forecast
  • Monitor Points Global Forecast
  • WSS Units World Market
  • Components Total Global Forecast

ROADM VENDORS

• Leading Vendors
  • Major Contracts
• Component/Sub-Assembly Vendors
• Component/Subassembly Vendor Listing
  • AC Photonics, Inc.
  • Active Optical MEMS, Inc.
  • Aegis Lightwave, Inc.
  • Agiltron, Inc.
  • Alliance Fiber Optic Products
  • ANdevices (Enablenace Technologies)
  • AOC Technologies
  • Auxora, Inc.
  • Avanex Corporation
  • DuPont Photonics Technologies
  • Kamelian (Amphotonix Ltd)
  • Lambda Optical Systems
  • LightComm Technology
  • LIGHTCONNECT Inc (NeoPhotonics)
  • Lightwaves2020 Inc.
  • Lynx Photonic Networks
  • Mahi Networks (Meriton)
  • Metconnex (JDSU)
  • NeoPhotonics
  • Network Photonics (Not in Operation)
  • OLYMPUS MICROSYSTEMS AMERICA INC.
  • O-Net Communications Ltd.
  • Oplink Communications, Inc.
  • Optium Technologies
  • Optoplex
  • OpTun Inc. (NEoPhotonics)
  • SDO Communications Corp.
  • Shenzhen Hi-Optel Technology Co. Ltd.
  • Silicon Light Machines (Cypress Semiconductor)
  • Sinclair Manufacturing Company
  • SpectraSwitch
  • Stratos International, Inc.
  • TeraXion Inc.
  • TheFibers Inc.
  • Topfiber Technology
  • TransOptix
  • Valdor Fiber Optics
  • Xerox
• System Vendors
• System Vendor Listing
  • Adva Optical Networking
  • Alcatel-Lucent
  • Ciena
  • Cisco
  • ECI
  • Ericsson
  • Fujitsu
  • Infinera
  • Huawei Technologies
  • Mahi Networks (formerly Photuris) - Meriton
  • Marconi Corporation plc (Ericsson)
  • Meriton Networks
  • Movaz Networks (ADVA)
  • NEC America Inc.
  • Nistica
  • Nokia Siemens (NSN)
  • Nortel
  • OpVista Inc.
  • Tellabs
  • Tropic Networks (Alcatel-Lucent)

APPENDIX I - ROADMS AND OTHER SWITCHES - A TAXONOMY

• Switches by Any Other Name
  • “Switch” Types
    • Classes of Transparent Optical Switches
      • FXC
      • WSXC
      • WICX (Wavelength Independent Cross-Connect)
  • Routers
  • TDM Switches
  • ATM
  • IP Switches
  • DACS
• DACS/ROADM Relationship
  • Drivers to DACS Deployment
• ADMs - The Key SONET Functionality
  • OADMs

APPENDIX II - TECHNOLOGIES FOR ROADMS

• Switches and Blocker
• MEMS
  • Approaches to MEMS
    • Digital Approach
    • Analog Approach
    • One Dimension MEMS
  • Grating Light Valve (GLV)
  • Liquid Crystal
    • LQ Uses
  • Fiber Bragg Grating
• Mux/Demuxes
  • AWG Devices
  • Etched Waveguide Devices (Planar Waveguide Devices)
• Tunable Lasers
• Monitor Points
• Technology Summary
  • Summary of Features by Class
  • Importance of Tunable Lasers
    • Developers and Vendors of Tunable Lasers
  • Tunable Lasers Vendors List
    • ADC
    • Altitun AB (ADC)
    • Alcatel-Lucent
    • Bookham (New Focus, Inc.)
    • Corning
    • Hewlett-Packard
    • Intel
    • JDS Uniphase
    • Marconi
    • Nortel
    • Paxera
    • Pirelli Broadband Systems
    • Santur

APPENDIX III - LISTING OF ACRONYMS

Table of Figures

• Figure 1: Lightwave Network
• Figure 2: ROADM General Configuration
• Figure 3: Fully Switched Approach to OADM
• Figure 4: PLC Based ROADM
• Figure 5: Detailed 'Blocker' ROADM Architecture
• Figure 6: Alternative M-Z Diode-based Broadcast ROADM
• Figure 7: WSS Structure
• Figure 8: WSS-based ROADM
• Figure 9: WSS-based Multi-degree Node Interconnection
• Figure 10: Typical Blocker ROADM
• Figure 11: WSS Added to Blocker
• Figure 12: Summary of ROADM Types by Utilization
• Figure 13: Four Generations of ROADMs
• Figure 14: Economic Advantages of ROADMs
• Figure 15: Three-Amp DWDM System
• Figure 16: 3R Intermediate Access Solution
• Figure 17: Use of ROADM for Intermediate Site Access
• Figure 18: Degree Three Node Example
• Figure 19: Joining Two Rings
• Figure 20: Using Core Routers in Degree-three Nodes
• Figure 21: Using an OXC in a Degree-three Node
• Figure 22: Using a ROADM for the Degree-three Node
• Figure 23: Using ROADMs for Joining Rings
• Figure 24: WSS Approach to Interconnecting Rings
• Figure 25: ROADMs across the Network
• Figure 26: Example of Edge ROADM Application - Telco
• Figure 27: Example of Edge Router used by Cable Company
• Figure 28: Forecast for Wavelength Services
• Figure 29: IPTV Video Network
• Figure 30: ROADM System Unit Forecast - US
• Figure 31: US Market - Change in Predominant Type of ROADM over Time
• Figure 32: US Edge ROADMs Systems
• Figure 33: Price Forecast for ROADMs
• Figure 34: ROADMs Market Forecast - US
• Figure 35: OADM vs. ROADM Market - US
• Figure 36: US ROADM as a Percent of Global Usage
• Figure 37: ROADM Systems - Global
• Figure 38: World Market - Change in Predominant Type of ROADM over Time
• Figure 39: US Portion of World Edge ROADM Market
• Figure 40: World Systems - Edge ROADMs
• Figure 41: ROADM Market Forecast - Global
• Figure 42: US Systems by Type
• Figure 43: PLC Version of the ROADM
• Figure 44: Broadcast/Blocker Version of the ROADM
• Figure 45: WSS Typical for Component Count
• Figure 46: Component Count for Each Type of ROADM
• Figure 47: Component Price Table
• Figure 48: Components - US Units
• Figure 49: Blocker US Market Forecast
• Figure 50: Mux/Demux US Market Forecast
• Figure 51: Tunable Laser US Market Forecast
• Figure 52: Tunable Filters US Market Forecast
• Figure 53: Switch Points US Market Forecast
• Figure 54: US Market - LC Switch Points
• Figure 55: US Market - MEMS Switch Points
• Figure 56: Monitor Points US Market
• Figure 57: US Market - WSS Units
• Figure 58: Total Components US Market Forecast
• Figure 59: Components Units Global Forecast
• Figure 60: Blocker Global Market Forecast
• Figure 61: Mux/Demux Market Forecast
• Figure 62: Tunable Laser Global Forecast
• Figure 63: Tunable Filters Global Market Forecast
• Figure 64: Switch Points Global Market Forecast
• Figure 65: World LC Switch Point Market
• Figure 66: World MEMS Switch Point Market
• Figure 67: Monitor Points Global Forecast
• Figure 68: World WSS Units Market
• Figure 69: Components Total Global Forecast
• Figure 70: U-Verse: FiOS ROADM Vendors
• Figure 71: Summary Table - Sub-system Vendors
• Figure 72: Summary Table - System Vendors
• Figure 73: ROADM Concept
• Figure 74: Example of FXC Class Fiber-to-Fiber Application
• Figure 75: Example of FXC Application at 1310 nm
• Figure 76: Example of WSXC Application
• Figure 77: Example of WICX Application
• Figure 78: SONET ADM
• Figure 79: OADM
• Figure 80: Improved OADM
• Figure 81: OADM with Limited Switching
• Figure 82: Detailed PLC ROADMs
• Figure 83: Detailed Blocker ROADM
• Figure 84: MEMS Layout
• Figure 85: Sketch of Two Dimensional MEMS
• Figure 86: Sketch of Multi-Dimensional MEMS
• Figure 87: 1D MEMS
• Figure 88: Sketch of Liquid Crystal Technology
• Figure 89: Planar Waveguide Demux
• Figure 90, Technologies' Summary
• Figure 91: Table of Switch Classes - Summary of Features
• Figure 92: Example of Use of Tunable Laser in Transparent OXC