ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a positioning of optical switching technologies in the next generation of systems and networks and addresses the feasibility issues. It also presents three introduction scenarios. The first one exploits the well-known circuit switching techniques that can be introduced rapidly on the market. The second one proposes a packet switching technique to have a better bandwidth exploitation. Finally, with the emergence of new optical functions/devices, the third scenario describes how it is possible to propose a full flexible packet ring network that is really competitive with respect to other electronic alternatives. The chapter provides the benefits of multiplexed architectures. In multiplexed architectures, the wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) dimension is exploited for different purposes. It lists the required commercial devices, and describes in more detail the potential new advanced technologies that open the way to really attractive system functionalities.
