Digital cross-connect systems - a tool for managing the transport network

Abstract

As the telecommunication networks grow more complex and difficult to manage, transport network elements such as digital cross-connect systems and SDH based products can provide attractive network solutions. The prime target for these systems is to provide more efficient network solutions in terms of cost, operations and maintainability. This paper considers digital cross-connect systems in their near time application areas such as leased lines and data networks, network administration and service provisioning, network redundancy and maintenance. Also cost comparisons to conventional approaches are made. For example, a digital cross-connect system solution for network protection switching reduces the needfor network spare capacity by a factor of 3 as compared to regular 1:1 protection switches. Replacing back-to-back multiplexer arrangements with DCCs also leads to substantial cost savings in the order of 10-50 %. Apart from viewing the network topics, this paper also presents some aspects of DCC implementation.