Optical networks and their evolution towards next generation networks

Dr. Mohammad Reza Pakravan

Dept of Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology

Optical transmission systems have played an important role in the evolution of communication systems and networks. They have allowed unprecedented capacity expansion and distance coverage of transmission systems while reducing the cost of backbone networks.

The role played by optical networks has been evolving during the past couple of years. Popularity of internet and exponential increase in demand for data networking has made an important impact on this evolution.

This tutorial will briefly overview the important technological aspects of optical networks. The evolution of these technologies towards next generation networks will be discussed and the impact of this evolution on the design and implementation of these networks will be reviewed.

1. Overview of Optical Networking
2. SDH standards and Systems
3. WDM technology and standard
4. Optical network design and some of its important concepts
5. New technologies in optical systems and networks

Faculty of Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran, Friday Sept. 9, 2005.

Interested participants of IST2005

Dr. Pakravan received his B.Sc. from Tehran University in 1991. He continued his graduate studies in Canada where he received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Communications from University of Ottawa in 1994 and 2000 respectively. He joined the Communication Systems Group of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Sharif University of Technology in 2001. His main research area includes optical networking technologies, Signal processing and its application in communication systems, sensor and ad hoc networks and their PHY, MAC and routing algorithm and protocol issues.

He has also been active in industrial R&D activities. He has held several technical and managerial positions in places such as Nortel Networks, Iran Telecommunication Research Center, Iran High Tech Center and several other private sector companies.