Bidirectional WDM self-healing ring network based on simple bidirectional Add/Drop amplifier modules

Abstract

We demonstrate a cost-effective bidirectional wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) self-healing ring network using a novel bidirectional add/drop amplifier module. The maximum power penalty incurred in this network for bidirectional transmission and add/drop multiplexing of WDM signals was measured to be less than 0.5 dB at an error rate of 10(-9). The restoration time was less than 2 ms. The results show that this network could accommodate at least ten nodes when the node spacing is 80 km.