The Flexible, Dynamic Optical Layer

A dynamic optical network that adjusts quickly and automatically to changes in offered traffic load provides performance superior to that of a network of fixed, static optical connections only under certain conditions: a high degree of interconnectivity among the network nodes and a moderate granularity of traffic relative to link capacity. Conventional wisdom in the broadband networking industry asserts that a flexible dynamic optical network - that is, one that can adjust quickly and automatically to changes in offered traffic load - provides performance superior to that of a network of fixed, static optical connections.