Optical transport networks (OTNs) will quickly evolve from dense wavelength
division multiplexed (DWDM) remedies for capacity exhaust to scalable and
robust optical networking applications catering to a wide variety of client
signals with equally varied service requirements. This paper presents a pr
actical vision for OTN evolution, placing it in the context of other networ
king trends. It also provides a brief introduction to the papers presented
in this issue, which together provide a view of Lucent Technologies' Networ
k Vision for a cost-effective, survivable, and flexible broadband optical n
etworking infrastructure.