simplified network

Simplified Metro Network Solution

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With the constant emergence of new services, such as 4K, LTE/LTE-A, IoT, big data, and cloud computing, operators' bearer networks face huge challenges. These services pose demanding requirements on network bandwidth, latency, service provisioning speed, and construction and maintenance costs. Network simplification is a key focus for bearer networks, with the potential to satisfy bandwidth and latency requirements of various new services, shorten time to market, and reduce construction and maintenance costs per bit.

In the era of voice/web services, traffic on metro networks is small and bearer networks mainly use ring topologies in which services are converged layer by layer and forwarded hop by hop. However, in the era of ultra-high definition (UHD) video, networks need to support real-time high-quality transmission with high bandwidth, low latency, and low jitter. The network convergence ratio decreases from 16:1 in the web era to 2:1. Conventional transmission with high convergence ratios and bandwidth sharing on ring networks cannot satisfy new requirements. Huawei's simplified network solution addresses this issue. In this solution, OTN equipment is introduced to simply network architecture by shifting from a ring topology to a tree topology, reducing network layers and achieved one-hop access to IP nodes without intermediate convergence or forwarding. This solution provides high bandwidth, low latency, and zero packet loss.
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Customer Value
  • 11 3

    High Bandwidth


    200 Gbit/s per wavelength; 120 wavelengths

  • 4 2

    Superior Experience


    One hop to the core, low latency, hard pipe, and zero packet loss

  • 4 3

    Low Costs


    Minimized per-bit transmission and maintenance costs

  • 9 1

    Fast Service Provisioning


    Network slicing, allowing for fast provisioning of various new services

Solution Features

5 2

High Bandwidth, Providing Sufficient Pipe Resources


Large capacity is a key characteristic of WDM/OTN networks. Surpassing other transmission technologies, WDM supports 120 wavelengths in one pair of fibers, with each wavelength providing bandwidth of 100/200 Gbit/s. Using OTN, service mapping and encapsulation are performed on WDM networks at standard ODUk granularities, decoupling the service side and the transport side and achieving flexible utilization of the high bandwidth. This enables multiple fine-grained services to be carried on a 100G or even 200G channel. Moreover, OTN networks support fast establishment of E2E service channels and service provisioning.

4 2

Low Latency and Zero Packet Loss, Offering Optimal Video Experience


In addition to bandwidth, network performance parameters such as packet loss rate and latency also impact video experience. WDM/OTN introduced into the simplified network provides E2E hard pipes and transparently transmits services, reducing the packet loss rate to zero. Latency is mainly caused by congestion on IP nodes, and congestion occurs when pipes are not big enough. The E2E hard pipes provided by WDM/OTN have equivalent bandwidth at both ends, preventing congestion. In addition, WDM/OTN helps flatten bearer networks, and uses separate wavelengths to establish direct connections, reducing E2E trails of video services and significantly reducing latency. Low latency and zero packet loss on a simplified network significantly improve service experience.

10 2

Simplified Architecture, Reducing TCO


Pass-through traffic over intermediate paths on metro networks comprises up to 60% of total traffic. On conventional metro networks, services need to be forwarded hop by hop, resulting in long service paths and high transport resource consumption on intermediate nodes. For example, when a new service needs to be added to or dropped from a site, bandwidth on the intermediate nodes is consumed. However, in the simplified network solution, OTN is used as the transport layer, and the metro Ethernet architecture is optimized to a flattened and simple network structure with three layers (Smart CO > BNG > CR), achieving one hop to the core for services and greatly reducing forwarding costs on intermediate nodes. In addition, node-by-node configuration for capacity expansion on traditional IP networks increases difficulties in fault management and maintenance. In contrast, simplified networks reduce network layers and provide visualized management. Clear alarm and monitoring interfaces are available for equipment at different layers, achieving fast and accurate fault locating, easy O&M, and low OPEX.