The 40-channel Wavelength Cross-Connect card and the software functionalities extended from previous releases provide multidegree switching capabilities at the individual wavelength level. Mesh and multiring network topologies can now be deployed using Cisco ONS 15454 MSTP platform with complete flexibility of service routing at all nodes in the network. This means that for each wavelength it is possible to decide if it has to be locally dropped or routed to any of the other 7 pass-through directions of the node.
Such a capability not only enhances the flexibility of the DWDM transport network but also dramatically reduces the need for costly transponders to perform optical-to-electrical-to-optical conversion (typically 2 transponders/crossponders per add/drop channel or wavelength). This capability allows carriers to more cost-effectively (from both a CapEx and OpEx perspective) build secure and efficient transport networks that can scale with their growing bandwidth and interconnect needs. The Cisco approach to DWDM gives carriers the freedom to reevaluate and alter their wavelength forecasts as service demands grow and business concentrations emerge-without suffering the heavy price typically associated with redesigning and mapping DWDM networks.