As services shift to IP protocols and bandwidth demands grow, Wireline Telcos and Cable MSOs alike must evolve their infrastructures to become IP centric. Current SONET-based architectures hinder the growth of high capacity Ethernet (GbE, 10GbE, etc.) trunking.

To overcome the limitations of SONET architectures, service providers are focusing on the creation of feeder and distribution infrastructures based either upon next generation optical systems or routers and switches. This paper discusses how either of these two paths can evolve to accomplish a converged service class packet optical infrastructure.

Service providers are taking both paths to this new infrastructure. One path focuses on resolving high bandwidth connectivity utilizing ROADM-based optical networks to create dynamic optical networks that efficiently manage higher bandwidth pipes. The alternative path focuses on packet efficiency by the creation of a network based upon direct interconnection of routers and switches. While there are advantages to both paths, ECI Telecom believes that the ideal solution allows a service provider to begin with either path and then evolve to a converged service class packet optical feeder and distribution infrastructure.

Read this whitepaper to learn more about the two paths service providers are taking to get to an IP centric infrastructure and how both paths end up in the same place.