What Is an MSPP Network?

MSPP networks are relatively new to the telecommunications industry. These networks are the result of the need to combine traditional TDM networks and data networks on the same physical platform or equipment. These platforms are sometimes referred to as next-generation SONET or SDH systems. The typical MSPP can operate at any of the SONET OC-n rates, from OC-192 to OC-3, and also can provide various drop ports of electrical or optical nature. These drop ports can be DS-1, DS-3, EC-1 (STS-1), OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, OC-192, Ethernet, Fibre Channel (FC), Fiber Connectivity (FICON), or Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON), and can also include dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) capabilities.

MSPP networks can be deployed in point-to-point, linear add/drop, unidirectional path-switched ring (UPSR), and bidirectional line switch ring (BLSR) configurations.