WDM Networking: Lessons from ACTS OPEN Field Trials

Abstract

The ACTS OPEN project aims at the assessment of the feasibility of an Optical Pan-European overlay Network (OPEN), interconnecting major European cities by means of a mesh of high-capacity optical fibre links cross-connected through transparent photonic nodes, making an extensive use of WDM for both transmission and networking. Two cross-border field trials have been scheduled to assess this concept: • The first one, linking Oslo in Norway (N) with Hjerring and Thisted in Denmark (Dk) via a mix of terrestrial (G.652) and submarine (G.653) types of fibre has been carried out from October to December 1997. • The second one, linking Paris in France (F) with Brussels in Belgium (B), via a terrestrial standard fibre cable will be initiated February 1998.