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What Is OTN—Optical Transport Network?

Author Moore

Date 10/13/2023

This article introduces what Optical Transport Network (OTN) is. OTN network systems help modern networks support various applications from the edge to the core and across the ocean. It also introduces information about QSFPTEK QT850, QT860 series products.

The Optical Transport Network (OTN) is a standardized telecommunications protocol within the industry, outlined in ITU Recommendations like G.709 and G.798. It offers an effective means to transport, switch, and multiplex various services over high-capacity wavelengths in optical networks. Presently, OTN-enabled technology is a cornerstone for network providers, providing advantages such as heightened resilience, streamlined operations, improved Service-Level Agreements (SLA), extended reach facilitated by Forward Error Correction (FEC), and the capability to optimize wavelength fill efficiently, ensuring guaranteed end-to-end service delivery.

 

What Is the Optical Transport Network?

 

The OTN meaning optical transport network, often called a 'digital wrapper,' seamlessly encapsulates each client/service, preserving its native structure, timing information, and management details for transparent transport across optical networks. The sophisticated multiplexing functionality of OTN supports a diverse range of traffic, such as IP, Ethernet, storage, digital video, and SONET/SDH, within an OTN framing structure—a pivotal factor driving the widespread adoption of OTN.

 

Since its establishment in 2001, OTN has transcended its initial role as a simple SONET/SDH wrapper. Notably, it has been refined to support Ethernet, the contemporary standard for client services, ranging from 1GE to 400GE. OTN-enabled technology serves as a fundamental component in the evolution of optical networks, demonstrating versatility in accommodating modern packet technologies like emerging Ethernet interfaces, MPLS, Segment Routing, and TSN, among others. The global deployment of OTN technology is extensive, with hundreds of thousands of OTN ports effectively transporting mission-critical traffic across a spectrum of applications. These ports are strategically deployed, extending from the network edge to the metro and core and even in submarine applications.

 

The Information Structure of OTN

 

The composition of the OTN networks consists of multiple components organized in a hierarchical structure, shown in the next picture.

 

OTN Networks Components

 

The OTM Optical Transport Module  is the information framework transported across the optical interface, encompassing two parts: digital and optical structures. Within this module, the Optical Channel Payload Unit (OPU) holds the payload frames, where the payload area accommodates end-user services like IP, Ethernet, or any other protocol. The OPU overhead pertains to mapping client data into the payload area.

 

The Optical Channel Data Unit (ODU) incorporates both the OPU overhead and payload area, along with additional overhead elements such as BIP8, GCC1/2, Tandem Connection Monitoring (TCM), and others. The ODU essentially represents the OTN path service within an OTN network.

 

OTN Network Service

 

Within the Optical Transport Unit (OTU), you find the ODU overhead and payload, offering section-level overhead functionalities like BIP8. Additionally, the OTU supports General Communication Channel (GCC) bytes, facilitating overhead communication between network nodes.

 

OTN Technology in Optical Networking

 

OTN technology plays a versatile role within optical networks. OTN mapping or encapsulation establishes highly efficient photonic connections with substantial bandwidth agility. Modern coherent modems, for instance, utilize OTN mapping to convey client service(s) across a robust, coherent wave, exemplifying its application in today's high-capacity optical landscape. Similarly, prevalent transponders leverage OTN for mapping clients onto Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) channels.

 

Moreover, OTN finds extensive network deployment employing module-based or central fabric-based OTN hardware. For instance, an OTN muxponder efficiently combines lower-speed clients onto a DWDM channel by using a hardware module or compact platform, promoting cost-effective point-to-point connectivity, fostering cost-effective point-to-point connectivity. Muxponders play a crucial role in aggregating and grooming lower-rate services, particularly in contemporary Data Center Interconnect (DCI) platforms, enabling the transport of multiple 100GE/400GE services. Notably, even in packet-optimized technologies like 400ZR and OpenZR+, the underlying OTN structures are optimized to accommodate Ethernet-only clients.

 

OTN structures

 

In expansive metropolitan and core networks with numerous interconnected nodes, utilizing an OTN centralized fabric becomes advantageous. This centralized fabric efficiently multiplexes (or grooms) lower-speed clients onto a DWDM channel through a back-plane cross-connect or fabric.

 

OTN Application

 

This facilitates remarkably flexible, scalable, and on-demand any-to-any connectivity throughout the network. The outcome is the capacity to optimize fiber utilization by efficiently leveraging high-capacity, next-generation coherent wavelengths. Additionally, this solution can be integrated with an OTN control plane, enhancing reliability and supporting advanced Service-Level Agreements (SLA) through flexible protection and restoration options. Particular providers are adopting a hybrid approach, combining packet and OTN switching, allowing for versatile deployments with varying degrees of packet and OTN switching.

 

The Key Operator Benefits of OTN Networks

 

In the present landscape, operators secure a competitive advantage through the substantial benefits provided by OTN devices. These advantages encompass enhanced performance through Forward Error Correction (FEC), streamlined operations, accelerated service activation, optimized efficiencies, and the provision of differentiated services. Consequently, operators can harness next-generation technologies within a programmable optical infrastructure, enabling swift adaptations to the unpredictable bandwidth demands of today. Let's delve into these critical advantages in greater detail.

 

Enhanced performance through Forward Error Correction (FEC). Notably, OTN incorporates an out-of-band FEC scheme applied to the signal before transmission. This FEC implementation substantially improves the network's tolerance to impairments in high-capacity transmissions, effectively detecting and correcting errors within the optical link. By substantially increasing the system margin for a specified Bit Error Rate (BER) and signal power, FEC allows for extended spans in the network. This extension enables providers to increase the distance between optical repeaters, ultimately reducing capital and operational expenses. Additionally, it simplifies the network topography by providing the flexibility to skip amplifier sites.

 

Streamlined operations and improved Service Level Agreements (SLAs). OTN provides service assurance and accelerates issue resolution through capabilities such as topology tracing, error detection, and fault isolation/correlation features.

 

Incorporated real-time latency measurement. Adhering to maximum latency Service Level Agreements (SLAs) is crucial in various applications, and OTN includes native latency measurements to verify and maintain SLA compliance.

 

Comprehensive end-to-end service monitoring. Incorporating built-in traffic monitoring solutions native to the protocol. Features like TCM facilitate end-to-end service monitoring across multiple domains.

 

TCM provides advanced sub-network operations, delineating up to six levels of performance monitoring. This facilitates enhanced operational efficiency and the capability to effectively deliver distinct Service Level Agreements (SLAs) within the sub-network segments.

 

Faster service turn-up. The separation of the client from the DWDM line allows for the distinct processes of service turn-up and capacity addition to the DWDM network. As a result, the process of introducing new services becomes quick and uncomplicated. This is accomplished by choosing the available line capacity between the starting and ending nodes (A and Z) within the interconnected network. This contrasts with the more traditional transponder-based architecture, where establishing a new wavelength between two points necessitates bandwidth dedication. As fill levels approach planning thresholds, extra line capacity can be seamlessly incorporated. Rapid service turn-up is a crucial competitive advantage and foundational for establishing a more dynamic, on-demand network. This capability empowers operators to promptly address service requests, meeting evolving customer expectations and unpredictable traffic requirements.

 

Optimize network efficiency. OTN provides the flexibility to map a diverse range of clients onto a DWDM wavelength, facilitating multiple clients' sharing of the same optical network. This capability empowers network providers to operate their DWDM links with utmost efficiency, eliminating stranded bandwidth and, in turn, maximizing overall network efficiencies. The introduction of ODUflex traffic containers represents a significant advancement, allowing for the highest network bandwidth optimization, especially in transporting sub-rated Ethernet/packet services. With a packet/OTN centralized fabric supporting ODUflex containers, providers can precisely tailor the size of the OTN container in 1.25G increments, enhancing efficiency in alignment with the specific service being transported.

 

Diverse service offerings. Operators can leverage advanced programmability by integrating OTN switching and the L1 (OTN) control plane. This enables establishing, protecting, and restoring services in alignment with specific Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and policies. A mesh-based network combining packet/OTN, widespread OTN switching, and a control plane facilitates swift service restoration. The rapid reconfiguration of OTN switches occurs faster than that of ROADMs, enhancing the agility and responsiveness of the network.

 

Future-proofing the network. OTN plays a crucial role in future-proofing networks against technological changes, providing operators the capability to accommodate:

 

New line rates are supported by OTN: extending beyond 100G through the introduction of the pioneering nx100G format known as OTUCn and FlexO. The OTN switching capabilities facilitate the migration of client services to these new line interfaces. This adaptability allows the transport of existing and future client signals over high-capacity wavelengths, including 800G, necessitating an OTUC8.

 

New technologies: OTN permits the re-use of client cards/ports even as new line cards or modulations are introduced and deployed. This implies that existing line cards can be retained in their positions without requiring new fiber patches.

 

New clients: OTN supports emerging client interfaces like 400GbE and FlexE. The OTN switching capability efficiently grooms these new client services into a single or group of line interfaces.

 

Conclusion

 

The OTN(Optical Transport Network) Chassis Platforms introducing the QT850 and QT860 series by QSFPTEK are advanced OTN products designed for modern networks. The QT860 series comes in a 5U chassis, supporting up to 7 boards with a total capacity of 1.4TB. It's easy to use with ZTP installation and supports various services like FC, Ethernet, and SDH. Hot-swappable parts make it efficient, and you can manage it flexibly using CLI, Telnet, SNMPv2, and Web. The QT860 series also has a 2U version, supporting up to 3 boards with a capacity of 600G. Both versions are cost-effective, easy to maintain, and suitable for different network needs.

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