Find out everything you need to know about how current networks will have to evolve to provide for future broadband services In this book, the authors provide an overview of the status, challenges, architectures, and technological solutions for core and metropolitan networks. Furthermore, the book describes the current state of core and metropolitan telecommunication networks, as well as the drivers and motives behind the current paradigm shift in the telecommunications industry. Moreover, the authors elaborate system design guidelines for both point-to-point and multi-hop optical networks taking into consideration the analogue nature of the transmission channel. Key Features: Provides coverage of all aspects of core and metro networks supporting future broadband services, and a detailed description of the state-of-the-art Presents a clear path for migrating from point-to-point to data-centric, dynamic, multi-hop optical networks Shows how current systems will need to evolve over the coming years, summarizing challenges and issues to be investigated in future research Covers a wide range of topics from network architectures, to control plane, to key optical and optoelectronic devices, and best practice in transmission and system design Provides results, best practices and guidelines for various technical problems, including numerous hands-on examples Written by authors from cutting-edge companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Siemens, Lucent, France Telecom, BT, and Telefonica Optical Core and Metro Networks will be of interest to researchers in industry and academia, and advanced (final year undergraduate) and postgraduate students undertaking communications, networking and optics courses.