Abstract: An add-drop network element (100) for an optical communications network. The add-drop network element comprises an optical amplifier (102) having an input port and an output port. The add-drop network element comprises also comprises an optical coupler (104) and an optical splitter (106). The optical coupler (104) comprises an add input port, a through input port and an output port, the output port of the optical coupler (104) being connected to the input port of the optical amplifier. The optical splitter (106) comprising a drop output port, a through output port and an input port, the input port of the optical splitter (106) being connected to the output port of the optical amplifier.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method, apparatus and system for determining reliability information for a network component (240) of a telecommunications network. The disclosed method comprises: obtaining (310) a plurality of samples of an operating parameter of the network component (240) acquired over a period of time; determining (320) a value of an acceleration factor based on the plurality of samples, the acceleration factor corresponding to an effect of the operating parameter over time on the network component (240); and determining (330) the reliability information based on the determined value of the acceleration factor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method, apparatus and system for determining reliability information for a network component (240) of a telecommunications network. The disclosed method comprises: obtaining (310) a plurality of samples of an operating parameter of the network component (240) acquired over a period of time; determining (320) a value of an acceleration factor based on the plurality of samples, the acceleration factor corresponding to an effect of the operating parameter over time on the network component (240); and determining (330) the reliability information based on the determined value of the acceleration factor.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an optical testing node, and method therein, for establishing transmission parameters for optical communications in an iterative manner. The establishment of the transmission parameters may comprise adjusting various parameters such as a modulation scheme, a light path length, and/or a spectral width.

Abstract: In an optical transport network a traffic flow comprises data grouped into a number of resizable data units, encapsulated by optical transport frames, each having a frame overhead. A rate of the traffic flow is changed by changing the data unit overhead and changing at the source node the frame overhead to indicate a change in rate of an optical signal carrying the traffic flow. An optical transmission part is tuned to transmit at the new rate, and at any intermediate nodes along the route the indication of the change in rate is detected in the frame overhead so that the traffic flow on a next optical link is transmitted at the new rate. Thus optical bandwidth allowed for enlarging the data units, can be saved, and electrical processing of data units at the nodes can be simplified, reducing power consumption.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an optical testing node, and method therein, for establishing transmission parameters for optical communications in an iterative manner. The establishment of the transmission parameters may comprise adjusting various parameters such as a modulation scheme, a light path length, and/or a spectral width.

Abstract: In an optical transport network a traffic flow comprises data grouped into a number of resizable data units, encapsulated by optical transport frames, each having a frame overhead. A rate of the traffic flow is changed by changing the data unit overhead and changing at the source node the frame overhead to indicate a change in rate of an optical signal carrying the traffic flow. An optical transmission part is tuned to transmit at the new rate, and at any intermediate nodes along the route the indication of the change in rate is detected in the frame overhead so that the traffic flow on a next optical link is transmitted at the new rate. Thus optical bandwidth allowed for enlarging the data units, can be saved, and electrical processing of data units at the nodes can be simplified, reducing power consumption.