RELATIVE ECONOMICS OF AMPLIFIED VERSUS UNAMPLIFIED WDM SYSTEMS IN METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORKS

摘要

Our study indicates that the transponder cost is the most influential cost component in the network cost, even though amplifiers were the largest single price component in the network. Using long-reach transponders, one can use an unamplified network design; however, if the overall transponder requirement is very large, and the cost difference between short-reach and long-reach transponders is large, then amplifiers may be a good choice. In terms of total cost, allowing amplified equipment saved about 17.6% of total network cost for the non-MSPP case. For the MSPP case, the amplified network was about 10% less expensive. It is also interesting to note that MSPP saved about 11.4% of total network cost, largely due to common powering and such. These results do not consider the additional cost of administering amplifiers, including maintenance, space, and provisioning. These operational costs need to be weighed carefully against the potential total network equipment savings.