Challenges of all-optical network evolution

The challenge of the all-optical network architecture is to migrate from late 1990s point to point to the future ring, mesh, and hybrid network. The future demands will shift from the traditional POTS network to a data-centric network. Network restoration will be a hotly debated subject because some customers will require stringent reliability and other customers may require no restoration at all. The future IP service may not require all the features offered in the presently deployed SONET systems.