Packet and TDM transport integration: how, when and why?

The world of transport is on the verge of significant change. The days of TIs being the driving force are fading as packet services and high capacity access networks grow. Ethernet as a ubiquitous means for interconnecting end users to carriers and carriers to carriers is coming. Yet the need for transport networks remains - manageable, low cost, high availability interconnection and private line services - that a service switch only network cannot effectively provide. OTPs are the base for next generation transport networks. With the integration of ROADMs for manageable lambda networking and transport MPLS for manageable packet transport, along with TDM switching for near term needs, carriers will have the tools they need to build the next generation transport network.