FEATURE Figure 6: Integration in the overall SDN backbone
OSS or SDN Orchestrator
SN 10 SDN API
SLTE SDN API
SN 10 GUI
SN 10 SDN Controller SLTE incl Tributaries
Portal
DR
DR
Cable Station
locations in the network, removing the need for specialized staff in the CLS, apart from PFE operation. This flexibility applies also to the COTDR that can operate through a terrestrial line. Considering the strategic importance of such connections for any business running over the cloud, efficient O&M is a key criterion for selection of the right technology. Submarine NMS, and more specifically ASN SN10, has always been dedicated and specialized for the management of core optical networks, providing O&M efficiency gains thanks to such specialized design. Criticality on such backbone is on early detection of any degradation and clear identification of the source of any issue, which can be complicated by the large volume of alarms raised by any fiber/cable failure. Inside ASN PoP to PoP solution, all transmissions segments, both wet and dry, are managed in a consistent way and presented to the operator in an integrated way with the same look and feel. The implementation of Machine Learning algorithms helps the analysis of performance data and the system is able to identify performance degradation patterns and issues reports summarizing the outcomes of its analysis. It is obvious that choosing a common supplier for wet line, dry line as well as transmission SLTE is providing a great O&M benefit thanks to the common NMS for all components of the system,. However, extension of the submarine technology to the PoP over any terrestrial links, as described earlier, is available in the open system model, leaving to the final customer the choice of its transmission (tributaries) supplier. Such architecture provides the benefits of the PoP to PoP solution in terms of low latency, data security and seamless dry and wet integration. In order to get the best of both worlds, SDN technology can be
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Cable Station
DR
DR
Portal
SLTE incl Tributaries
used to integrate the specialized submarine management into a wider and more flexible terrestrial system. In such an architecture, the SDN controller can perform full monitoring and provisioning on all elements, through the APIs delivered by the submarine network management as well as the transmission equipment or its NMS. As a conclusion, solutions are fully available and qualified to deliver all functionalities, security and resilience for the connection of data centers and PoP across a mix of submarine and terrestrial links, both in an open or turnkey architecture. The introduction of flexibility in the dry and wet segments thanks to WSS technology is perfectly fitting the traffic requirements of the companies operating over the cloud. In addition, extension of the submarine transmission over the terrestrial segments to the PoP/DC, despite a slight decrease of capacity, is providing benefits for end-to-end resilience and latency. Finally, availability of a specialized NMS like the ASN SN10 can boost the efficiency of the O&M teams and help reduce the system downtimes, while the next generation of interfaces will soon enable the full integration in the SDN architecture. STF JEAN-FRANCOIS BAGET is currently Technical Marketing Manager in Alcatel Submarine Networks. He joined Alcatel Submarine Network in 1994 where he was involved in various technical functions in design, integration and engineering. From 2007 to 2019, he has been leading the technical implementation of submarine network systems, both for new builds and upgrade project. His background covers Network Management, Optical Network Architecture and WDM transmission and he is PMI-PMP certified for project management. He recently joined ASN Product Strategy, Management and Marketing group. This article integrates the contributions of various members of the group, with a special thanks to Arnaud Leroy, SLTE product manager.