Broadband and wideband digital cross-connect systems (DCSs) are becoming a basic building block for the modern telecommunications transport network. The DCSs' centralized network management and control, increased reliability and robustness, and reduced equipment and operations costs are discussed. The DCSs provide the necessary bridge between asynchronous networks and the evolving synchronous optical networks (SONETs). Application domains and the forces affecting these domains are presented as a guide to their economic deployment. Application economics, the central-office model, and economic results and analysis are also discussed.
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