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What is Optical Transport Network?

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Versitron
What is Optical Transport Network?

The electronics and telecommunication sector, over the last three to four decades, has undergone a revolution in terms of technological advancements, and it is still evolving with newer and better technologies. The advent of Internet during the 90s as well as the rising number of or private business networks paved way for advancements in data communication, transmission, storage, multiplexing techniques, network devices, and large bandwidth. Some of the driving forces of these advancements and new protocols for data transmission are also the ever increasing demand for high-speed internet, seamless connectivity, minimal cabling, and so on. To cater to the increasing network traffic, there is a need for industry standard protocols and help send data packets across complex networks without any hassles. OTN or optical transport network protocol is an efficient industry standard protocol comprising several optical network elements connected by fiber links. This plays a huge role in adding various features and offering a framework for the entire network. This post discusses the details regarding OTN network.

 

OTN Network Explained

OTN is a digital wrapper technology defined and standardized by the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). It offers various ways of multiplexing onto digital paths. However, it is not restricted to just this aspect. Optical transport network offers features similar to SONET to the network equipment. It offers the network a consolidation of various functions such as transporting, multiplexing, routing, overall management and control. These are few of the reasons why it is used in networks in urban areas or long haul ones where packet switching is used for data transfer.

 

Benefits Offered by OTN

OTN is compatible with copper as well as fiber networks and offers the best of both which is transmission through electrical signals as well as optical transmission. There are many benefits of using OTN in your network. Here are some of them:

  • Standardization: The technology is standardized, and also it offers a standard network hierarchy in such a way that low rate signals can be upgraded to high-rate ones. So, the services or functions within 10Gpbs can ascend to 40Gpbs or more without physically expanding the network.
  • Transparency: Being standardized, it offers complete transparency in terms of network hierarchy. This improves network functionality in terms of Ethernet, transmission of audio and video, SONET, and data storage.
  • Scalability: OTN increases the infrastructure-related capacity, which helps increase the number of services on a business network. This makes the network highly scalable, thus leaving scope for future expansions.
  • Flexibility: This way it is easy for operators to use the technologies they require to meet the increasing data-related demands. Also, OTN facilitates exiting networks to scale to mesh, end- to-end, or ring networks depending upon the requirement.
  • Cost: OTN is cost effective as it it requires no physical changes in the network. Also, it optimally uses the available bandwidth, transfers several devices on a single wavelength, and hence reduces the transport cost by and large.

 

 

Using new technologies to improve and expand your network in terms of speed, distance, scalability, and so on is always a good decision, especially if you have an ever-growing business. Ensure the devices you source to complete the requirements of network expansion are compatible with the new technologies as well as existing networks. So, make sure you source them from reputed and certified suppliers who can understand what you exactly require. VERSITRON is a well-established manufacturer and supplier of various network devices which support copper as well as fiber networks. The company offers network devices such as media converters, connectors, routers, network switches, and more.

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