CESNET in London introduced new Flex ROADM optical switches

Prague / London 30. Oct. 2018. CESNET, a Czech e-infrastructure operator, has introduced new Flexible Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexers (ROADM) with SDN (Software-Defined Networking) control at the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) Summit in London.

Two newly introduced 1U devices allow building general ROADM nodes with up to eight line degrees and redundant twenty-port Add/Drop groups. Product showcase included practical demonstration of using telecom optical fibre as a sensor. An SDN application detected mechanical vibrations simulating a digging activity in the vicinity of the fibre path. Traffic was re-routed before an "excavator" managed to break the fibre and disrupt the transmission path.

The Flex ROADMs (Flexible Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexor) are a central building block of modern telecommunication network, switching wavelengths of light between fibres. These devices operate below the packet layer and as such do not restrict the deployment of high transfer rates.

„Our ROADMs enable network operators to control all properties of the so-called optical media channel,“ says Jan Kundrat, technical lead of LO SDN (optical software defined networks) development at CESNET, „Thanks to the SDN control, intuitive YANG data models and the NETCONF protocol, and can access the optical layer as a common SDN network. Intent-based approach can be used to provision self-service optical lambda circuits. Our devices are capable of monitoring spectrum utilization of third-party Alien Wavelengths as well.“

The Flexible-grid, Colorless, Directionless ROADMs were designed using the futureproof route-and-select architecture. Each 1U-sized module uses redundant, hot-swap power supplies and fans and supports failsafe firmware updates. A booster and pre-amplifier are integrated into each line degree with support for 25 dB spans with no need for additional amplification.

The two new models of ROADM devices complement and expand CESNET's existing portfolio of CzechLight devices which have been available since 2005. The existing devices include amplifiers, variable multiplexers, switches, terminal nodes and custom speciality equipment. With the newly added ROADMs, CESNET offers designs of full range of Open Line System devices for OEM/ODM manufacturing partners.

„Family of CzechLight DWDM devices have always aligned with the concept and paved the way of Open Line Systems. As operators of a National scientific and research network (NREN), we have always built networks with ability to tweak its lowest layer and therefore bring better value to our users and customers. Our new ROADM with NETCONF/YANG control demonstrates our commitment to flexible optical networks," adds Josef Vojtech, head of CESNET's optical research team.

The CESNET Association was founded by Czech universities and the Czech Academy of Sciences in 1996. It has built and developed the national CESNET e-infrastructure, designed for science, research and education, including a computer network, computing grids, data repositories and an environment for collaboration, and offers a wide range of services for universities, scientific research facilities and other institutions. The Association also does its own research and development of information and communications technology and represents the Czech Republic in major international projects, particularly in building the pan-European GÉANT network. CESNET places great emphasis on the security of network operations, services and user protection.

Last change: 30.10.2018