Tropic Networks unveils a fully managed reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer platform

20 May 2003 Ottawa, Canada Lightwave - Tropic Networks' TRX-24000 DWDM platform will now include reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing (R-OADM). This capability gives metro-regional service providers any-wavelength-at-any-node reconfigurability without service interruption, streamlining the process of making changes to their networks. The TRX-24000 is the first platform with software designed specifically for the rigorous optical layer flexibility and manageability requirements of service providers, according to the company.

It is also differentiated by the company's Wavelength Tracker technology, which identifies, tracks and monitors every wavelength. The R-OADM capability, Wavelength Tracker technology and the ability to transparently re-use wavelengths from third party sources (virtually eliminating optical-electrical-optical conversions) form the three cornerstones of this open photonic layer approach to metro-regional optical networking.

For a number of years, telecom service providers have struggled to make a viable business case for DWDM as a metro-regional core infrastructure beyond simple point-to-point applications. Today's cost conscious arena, the pressure to manage network growth and a requirement to simplify provisioning at a credible price point is driving the need for a dynamic metro-regional DWDM optical layer.