NETWORK EVOLUTION: WILL DISTRIBUTED NETWORKS RULE

摘要

The Multi-Service Transport Switch is a flexible distributed switching platform that can be used in numerous network configurations. It promises to provide carriers with a cost-effective alternative to large, costly digital cross-connects. By utilizing the latest technology and recent advances in software, the Multi-Service Transport Switch will simplify the network. It provides carriers with both network element and network level savings. While the MultiService Transport Switch offers the high capacity bandwidth management of digital cross-connects, it can be grown in a modular fashion, allowing it to evolve from providing low cost primary transport capabilities to advanced application hubbing duties. By converging the functions of multiple next generation devices and utilizing sophisticated software modules from intelligent optical switches, the Multi-Service Transport Switch establishes itself as the foundation for the evolution of the network going forward. It simplifies the architectural choices for network planners by allowing a seamless mix of architectures on the same network. It transforms the network from a series of loosely inter-connected rings to a single homogenous network capable of supporting both ring and shared mesh restoration. The Multi-Service Transport Switch simplifies the evolution of the network by maintaining SONET as the transport layer and supporting voice, video, and data at the service layer.