THE DEFINITIVE GUIDEBOOK TO NEXT GENERATION SONET/SDH, OPTICAL NETWORKS, AND NEW DATA COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL The next generation SONET/SDH answers the demand for a communications network with improved data QoS, higher data rates, exceptional flexibility, efficiency and scalability, superb protection, and a data-friendly standard, by integrating the simplicity and cost-efficiency of the data network with bandwidth capacity and QoS of the synchronous optical network. Designed for communication specialists who need to understand the implications and implementation requirements of the next generation optical network. Next Generation SONET/SDH: Voice and Data offers an accessible yet comprehensive introduction to this latest version of SONET/SDH. In this, his fourth book on optical networking, Dr. Kartalopoulos explains in simple terms the wealth of new protocols designed to optimize this new optical network, increase its efficiency, and decrease its cost. Featuring only essential mathematics and supported by many helpful illustrations, the text: * Explains and references the new SONET/SDH standards * Details the many implications and improvements that the next generation of SONET-over-DWDM will bring * Provides careful explanations of such optical systems as Data-over SONET, Packet-over-SONET, Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAST), the Generalized Framing Procedure (GFP), Link Access Procedure for SDH (LAPS), Internet and Gigabit Ethernet over SONET, Virtual Concatenation, the Multi-Service Provisioning Platform (MSPP), and the Multi-Service Switching Platform (MSSP). In addition, the book explains other optical networks including the optical transport network (OTN).