The testing session successfully demonstrated the interoperability through a paramount signaling GMPLS-based protocol which enables carriers and IP/data service providers to establish and tear down optical connections on demand in a simple, fast and cost-effective way.
UNI — the User Network Interface — defines an interface to an optical network that permits a service provider, purchasing bandwidth from a carrier, to directly set up light-paths across the carrier’s network according to the traffic generated on the service provider’s SDH/Sonet, ATM and IP equipment.
Carriers can dynamically allocate bandwidth where and when needed, scaling their network capacity on demand and offering a broad range of new, differentiated open-standard services.
UNI also allows for managing requests for true carrier grade quality of service (QoS), while enabling end-users to get the services they want, at competitive prices.
For the trial, Alcatel provided a complete suite of products for intelligent optical networking — Lambda Gate optical cross-connect, Routing Switch Platform (RSP) and Routing Core Platform (RCP) systems as well as a global and integrated Network Management platform, including the latest Bandwidth-on-Demand (BonD) manager.