The overall goal of the IST project NOBEL is to find and to validate (experimentally) innovative network solutions and technologies for intelligent and flexible optical networks, thereby enabling broadband services for all.

Specifically project main objectives are:

• to define network architectures, evolutionary guidelines and a roadmap for core and metro optical transport networks towards intelligent data centric solutions (based on optical and electrical switching, e.g. ASON/GMPLS); 
• to identify main drivers for the evolution of core and metro optical networks supporting end-to-end broadband services, and to derive technical requirements in accordance to this; 
• to study efficient traffic/network engineering and resilience strategies in multi-layer/domain/service networks and interworking issues; 
• to assess and describe social and techno-economic aspects regarding the deployment of network solutions and technologies for intelligent and flexible optical networks; 
• to evaluate solutions for providing end-to-end Quality of Service; 
• to identify network architectures, concepts and solutions for advanced packet/burst switching; 
• to propose simplified strategies for the end-to-end management and control of intra/inter-domain connections in multi-layers networks (e.g. IP over Optics); 
• to find enhanced solutions and technologies for physical transmission in transparent optical networks; 
• to identify the key functional requirements from the architectural, management, control and transmission viewpoints and translate them into specifications, feasibility studies and prototype realizations for multi-service/multi-layer nodes with flexible client and adaptable transport interfaces; 
• to assess existing technologies, components and subsystems in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, deriving requirements and specifications for next generation components and subsystems, with respect to the network solutions identified; 
• to integrate the prototype solutions of for multi-service/multi-layer nodes into existing test beds for experiments on advanced functionalities.

NOBEL will promote dissemination of results and foster end to end broadband applications, in order to create a consensus view on its advanced and innovative solutions.

NOBEL will also contribute to Standards and Fora, in order to create favourable conditions for the penetration of broadband services, thus contributing to the market growth and enabling successful exploitation programs. Specific contributions will be submitted to ITU-T, TMF, OIF and IETF thus reinforcing European position in such bodies and fora.