SR NWT 002224 : ISSUE 1

Bellcore's view of how the introduction of SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) will affect Synchronization networks in the near term. SONET is a national and international standard that provides for compatible optical equipment. A main feature of SONET and a key difference from existing proprietary optical transmission systems, is that it is synchronous and, as such, it will have to be integrated into the current synchronization network. Furthermore, SONET should provide a superior means of distributing synchronization in the future. Background information on both, the current synchronization network and the SONET concept, plans for the integration of SONET NEs into the synchronization network, and plans for the evolution of the synchronization network to OC N (Optical Carrier Network Element)