Optical Transport Networks, Optical Containers, And Granular Layer 1 ODUflex Protocol
Optical wavelengths are composed of fundamental building blocks known as optical container units. The industry has recognized that current wavelength transmission rates are too chunky or insufficiently granular. There are limited number of sizes with many customers struggling to justify the leap from 100G to the relatively new 400G standard. Or even the 10G to 100G leap. On the supplier side the limited size options of wavelengths can lead to stranded spectrum. For example, you might have enough spectrum for 5G or 150G or 650G. In all these cases the stranded capacity represents lost revenue in a cut throat, ferociously competitive wholesale market. In general network operators struggle to achieve their targeted rates of return on capital because they are selling quasi-homogeneous products in a market where price comparisons are easy and buyers have strong incentive to minimize costs. The ODUflex standard was introduced in part to create wavelengths below the 2.5G level. The funda...
