OC-192 Broadband Key Terms

Understanding OC-192 fiber optic technology

OC-192 broadband is most commonly used as a backbone for large Internet service providers. It has transmission speeds of almost 10Gbps (gigabits per second), or 10,000 MBps (megabits per second). It is transmitted exclusively on optical fiber. OC192 can be called 10GB SONET or STM-64. There are two common Ethernet standards that compete with OC-192: WAN-PHY and LAN-PHY. WAN-PHY is compatible with OC-192 equipment, but LAN-PHY is not. These three standards are the fastest available on the Internet.

 

Optical carrier

Optical carrier levels are a way to describe the digital hierarchy in a SONET fiber optic network. The levels are OC-1, OC-3, OC-6, OC-9, OC-12, OC-18, OC-24, OC-36, OC-48, OC-96 and OC-192. There are a couple theoretical levels beyond that which haven't been implemented. You can calculate the speed of an optical carrier line by multiplying the level number by 51.8 MBit/s.
Try: Learn about optical carrier services at GigaPackets.

Synchronous optical network (SONET)

SONET is a physical layer specification that describes dual-ring optical networks for long distance and metropolitan applications. It establishes the OC levels, from 1 to 192, and enabled carrier networks throughout the world to connect their existing digital carrier and fiber optic systems. SONET is also called SDH by the International Telecommunication Union or ITU.
Try: Read the SONET FAQ at SONET.com.

Synchronous transport module (STM)

A synchronous transport module, or STM, is the basic transport frame on an SDH or SONET network. STM-1 has a speed of 155MBps. STMs can be simultaneously transmitted, or multiplexed, to create faster STMs up to and including STM-64, which is used in OC-192 broadband.
Try: Use the data transfer calculator at Unitconversion.org to convert from megabits per second to STM-64, or OC-192.

Synchronous transport signal (STS)

STS is the standard for data transmission over SONET. OC-192 can also be called STS-192. STS-1 is the basic rate.
Try: Learn more about STS and other aspects of SONET at the International Engineering Consortium.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

The International Telecommunication Union, or ITU, is the United Nations agency that deals with communication and information technology. Over the last 145 years, they have had their hands in everything from the global sharing of the radio spectrum to international cooperation in satellite placement. The ITU-T deals with telecommunications standards or recommendations.
Try: Read all about the ITU-T at the official ITU website.

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)

The SDH, or Synchronous Digital Hierarchy, is the international version of the SONET standard, published by the ITU. Both define synchronous data transmission over fiber optic networks.
Try: Read more about SDH vs. SONET at TechFest.

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