OC3, OC12, OC48 Services
What is OC3?
Optical Carrier level 3 (OC3) is a network line with transmission data rates of up to 155.52 Mbit/s (payload: 148.608 Mbps; overhead: 6.912 Mbps, including path overhead) using fiber optics. This is the equivalent of 100 T-1 circuits or more than 3 T3 (DS3) connections.
OC3 works as a reliable fiber optic backbone for large networks with large voice/data/video traffic needs.
It is often transmitted over a bi-directional, dual ring topology using Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) for mulitplexing to maintain reliability and redundancy during high speed transmissions. The physical structure of the rings require two sets of fiber strands. The first ring is for sending and receiving voice, data and video traffic. The second strand acts as a backup and will reroute traffic from the primary ring, in another direction should the primary ring break or suffer a malfunction. OC3 and OC12 circuits can be ordered with and without the dual ring topology protection. For high availability applications, some customers purchase 1+1 protection, effectively creating a second, back-up facility, including redundant local loops. The use of protected circuits will generally increase the advertised availability from 99.9% to 99.99%.
What is OC12?
An OC12 link is approximately equal to four OC3s and runs at 622 Mbps. OC12 is the very best point-to-point IP delivery connection. The greatest benefit of OC12 is that bandwidth can be added as your business grows. If, for example, in the next five years your business quadruples in size, and so does your bandwidth needs, OC12 will allow you to expand your bandwidth needs without a major system overhaul.
How these technologies benefit you
OC3s can be used to provide 100 Mbps connections. Gigabit Ethernet connections can be provided over OC12s for locations where native IP connectivity is not available. It is common for some businesses to break an OC3 into three equivalent T3s (DS-3) for separate applications and connectivity needs between locations or an MPLS cloud. In a similar fashion, an OC12 is often broken down into separate OC3 equivalents and used as a carrier system to link multiple applications between sites.
This enables carriers to offer "burstable" OC3 and OC12 connections to customers who require a lesser amount of bandwidth with the ability to periodically send higher amounts (bursts) of information. These applications are generally provided over an MPLS network architecture and Quality of Service (QOS) for these shared facilities. Alternatives must be very carefully defined to ensure the required amount of bandwidth is available when needed.
As an alternative to redundant local loops, high survivability fiber optic "ring" topologies can be used to provide instantaneous switching to a different path from the client's location to the telephone company's switching office(s). At the carrier's switching office, OC3s and OC12s are generally multiplexed onto a higher speed carrier such as OC48 (2488.32 Mbps) or OC192 (9953.28 Mbps) to provide interoffice connectivity.
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