Issue 3 June 2000 A-1
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A SONET Overview A
Overview
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This section briefly describes the Synchronous Optical Network (SONET).
History
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In the early 1980s, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recognized
the need for an optical signal standard for future broadband transmission. The
ANSI T1X1 subcommittee began working on optical signal and interface
standards in 1984. In 1985, Bellcore (now Telcordia Technologies) proposed a
network approach to fiber system standardization to T1X1. The proposal
suggested a hierarchical family of signals whose rates would be integer
multiples of a basic modular signal. The proposal further suggested a
synchronous multiplexing technique, leading to the coining of the term
Synchronous Optical NETwork
(SONET).
The International Telephone and Telegraph Consultative Committee (CCITT) first
showed interest in 1986. Conferences held through 1987 and 1988 resulted in
coordinated specifications for both the American National Standard (SONET) and
the CCITT-International Standard, Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH). Approval
of both sets of standards occurred in late 1988.
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