<title>Evolution of optical links toward full-optical transparency</title>

In this paper we review issues of evolution of optical networks towards their full optical transparency and present sequence of eliminating non-transparent elements out of optical links (networks). Architectures of optical commutators with electrical and optical cores have been presented, as well as a structure of OMO (optical-millimeter wave-optical) switching fabric. An example of pure al-optical switch, made by Luxcore, utilizing dispersion compensating elements, wavelength converters and and variable optical attenuators (VOA) operating entirely in optical domain without optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversions, was quoted. We brought up an issue of all-optical 3R signal regeneration…