Lightpath (optical network)


In optical networking, a lightpath is a path between two nodes in an optical network between which light passes through unmodified.

Description

When a lightpath can be established between source and destination node endpoints, the connection is totally optical and avoids bandwidth throttling by intermediate electronic conversions and processing. A lightpath passing through an optical add-drop multiplexer is known as a cut-through lightpath. A lightpath added or dropped at an OADM is known as an added/dropped lightpath.

Semi-lightpath

Where endpoints are connected by a series of lightpaths with the intermediate nodes only changing the light wavelength at the junctions, this may be referred to as a semi-lightpath.