Next-generation Optical Switch Technologies for Realizing ROADM with More Flexible Functions.

The article discusses the research and development (R&D) trends in optical switch technologies required for colorless, directionless and contentionless reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (CDC-ROADM). It provides an overview of the colorless, directionless and contentionless functions. The authors suggest using wavelength selective switch with 20 or more output ports. They also created a CDC-ROADM node configuration modeled on silica-based planar lightwave circuit technology.