We analyze the scalability of a metropolitan bidirectional multifiber wavel
ength-division-multiplexed (WDM) ring network. The analysis is carried out
by using a bidirectional transmission model for optical networks and by bui
lding an experimental network. The model includes major limiting factors in
WDM-ring networks such as relative intensity noise (RIN) due to multiple R
ayleigh backscattering, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) accumulation i
n a cascade of bidirectional erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA), tilting
of the EDFA gain spectrum and input saturation power of the EDFA. We found
that in metropolitan areas the scalability of a WDM-ring network using bidi
rectional transmission is not mainly limited by the RIN arising from the Ra
yleigh backscattering. The result was verified experimentally. The maximum
size of the demonstrated network is 33-43 nodes with a spacing of 5-10 km b
etween nodes. With this spacing, which is typical in metropolitan areas, th
e scalability of the network is mainly limited by the gain tilt and the inp
ut saturation power of the EDFA.