An Improved All-Fiber Cross-Connect Node for Future Optical Transport Networks

In this paper, we briefly review the current state-of-the-art in fiber devices for communication systems and propose some modifications to a previously reported all-fiber optical cross-connect node. These modifications seek to improve the node's spectral characteristics, modularity, and optical spectral efficiency. Similar recommendations are also made for optical add-drop multiplexers to be used in optical ring topologies. Using the added features, the transmission performance of the modified 2×2 node is analyzed and comparisons are made with the previously reported nodes of the same dimensions. The results indicate a significant improvement in node cascadability performance over the latter case. Further comparisons were carried out to include other types of all-fiber cross-connect nodes, with the modified node again proving to be an overall competitive solution.