Multiwavelength Optical Networks provides complete coverage of the next level of communication networks-multiwavelength optical networks which meet the bandwidth demands of today's expanding networks. Renowned wireless veteran Thomas E. Stern teams with industry innovator Krishna Bala to deliver a comprehensive framework for understanding the technology, encompassing the concepts, methodology, and features of lightwave networks, such as physical layout, functionality, and algorithms. The book contains material sufficiently detailed and specific to be useful to engineers currently developing and implementing systems. An added feature is the emphasis on Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM), an approach gaining in interest due to the expectation t hat it will become the backbone of the next-generation Internet.