A technique for providing an optical signal to a destination. In one
embodiment, the technique is realized through the use of an
environmentally hardened, modular switch and a fiber distribution
methodology. The modular switch may include fiber access ports, power
access ports, dual power supply modules, dual switch fabric modules, dual
optical trunking modules, and multiple subscriber service modules that
house subscriber service ports and serve a total of up to 96 end points.
The dual optical trunking modules may act as an interface between an
optical network and the dual switch fabrics, and provide redundancy and
variable optical transmission distance between the modular switch and the
optical network to which the modular switch is connected. The dual switch
fabrics are used for switching and aggregating signals and providing
redundancy. Each subscriber service module acts as an interface between
one or more subscriber end points and the dual switch fabrics of the
modular switch. The subscriber service modules may be coupled to one or
both of the dual switch fabrics and a total of up to 96 subscriber end
points. Subscriber end point connectivity may be achieved via subscriber
service ports (housed within a subscriber service module), one or more of
the fiber access ports, external fiber optic splice cabinet, fiber optic
trunk cable, and one or more fiber breakout points (housed by pedestals).
The subscriber end points may consist of one or more optical or
electrical subscriber connection types.