Dr. Alexandros Stavdas currently fills the position of Associate Professor in the department of Telecommunications Science and Technology at the University of Peloponnese, Tripolis, Greece. Dr. Stavdas holds a B.Sc. in Physics (University of Athens), a M.Sc. in Optoelectronics and Laser Devices (Heriot-Watt University/St-Andrews University), a Ph.D. (University College of London) in the field of wavelength routed WDM networks.He is also heading the Optical Networking Group of NTUA. He is the author or co-author of over 50 journal publications and conference articles. He also served as Technical Program Committee Chairman and Member in a large number of conferences. Current interests include physical layer modeling of optical networks, ultra-high capacity end-to-end optical networks, OXC architectures, Optical Packet/Burst Switching and WDM access networks.

• Preface 1 The Emerging Core and Metropolitan NetworksAndrea Di Giglio, Angel Ferreiro and Marco Schiano1.1 Introduction1.2 General Characteristics of Transport Network1.3 Future Networks Challenges1.4 New Transport Networks Architectures1.5 Transport Networks EconomicsAcronymsReferences2 The Advances in Control and Management for Transport NetworksDominique Verchere and Bela Berde2.1 Drivers Towards More Uniform Management and Control Networks2.2 Control Plane as Main Enabler to Autonomic Network Integration2.3 Multilayer Interactions and Network Models2.4 Evolution of Connection Services and Special Cases of Optical Networks2.5 ConclusionReferences3 Elements from Telecommunications EngineeringChris Matrakidis, John Mitchell and Benn Thomsen3.1 Digital Optical Communication Systems3.2 Performance EstimationReferences4 Enabling TechnologiesStefano Santoni, Roberto Cigliutti, Massimo Giltrelli, Pasquale Donadio,Chris Matrakidis, Andrea Paparella, Tanya Politi, Marcello Potenza,Erwan Pincemin and Alexandros Stavdas4.1 Introduction4.2 Transmitters4.3 Receiver4.4 The Optical Fiber4.5 Optical Amplifiers4.6 Optical Filters and MultiplexersReferences5 Assessing Physical Layer DegradationsAndrew Lord, Marcello Potenza, Marco Forzati and Erwan Pincemin5.1 Introduction and Scope5.2 Optical Power Budgets, Part I5.3 System Bandwidth5.4 Comments on Budgets for Nonlinear Effects and Optical Transients5.5 Semianalytical Models for Penalties5.6 Translucent or Hybrid Networks5.7 AppendixReferences6 Combating Physical Layer DegradationsHerbert Haunstein, Harald Rohde, Marco Forzati, Erwan Pincemin,Jonas Martensson, Anders Djupsj€obacka and Tanya Politi6.1 Introduction6.2 Dispersion-Compensating Components and Methods for CD and PMD6.3 Modulation Formats6.4 Electronic Equalization of Optical Transmission Impairments6.5 FEC in Lightwave Systems6.6 Appendix: Experimental Configuration and Measurement Procedure for Evaluation and Comparison for Different Modulation Formats for 40 Gbit/s TransmissionAcknowledgmentsReferencesDictionary of Optical NetworkingDidier Colle, Chris Matrakidis and Josep Sol_e-ParetaAcronymsIndex