This paper identifies the rationale, needs, and constraints of telecommunications carriers in deploying a multi-terabit optical bandwidth manager. In particular and in addition to the technical, cross-connection problems that such a device solves, this paper focuses on the commercial considerations necessary for the multi-terabit bandwidth manager (MTBM) to be a feasible addition to networks. Considered a milestone in optical technology, the MTBM's promise is 1) to provide a cornerstone for establishing a carrier-class multi-terabit, high-density optical transport solution to manage exploding network backbone traffic, and 2) to provide a platform to launch network services, which are tailored and customized to the specific needs and service level requirements of each customer. To that end, the paper first examines existing network architecture limitations in addressing growing transport demands, and details the improvements to network economics that carriers would achieve by deploying a large bandwidth manager. Secondly, the paper examines how escalating market demands for the introduction of new managed bandwidth services and the rapid provisioning of these services and connections are driving service providers to deploy MTBMs within their existing networks. Finally, this paper outlines the specific requirements that equipment vendors must realize in order to meet the MTBM needs of the Infrastructure Providers, Carriers, and Service Providers who wish to offer the next generation of services to their customers.
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