Transmission features and limitations of large-scale switchless all-optical networks

In the framework of the ACTS-SONATA project, a detailed analysis of transmission aspects has been achieved in order to assess the features and the limitations of the switchless network concept over a large-scale network. The results show that the transmission of up to 400 wavelength channels is feasible when a bit rate of 622 Mb/s is adopted, while in the case of 500 channels an in-depth analysis of the cross-phase modulation effect is required.