Remote optical demarcation point protection

In an optical network connecting a customer's network element within a customer's network with a service provider's network element in a service provider's network, a system for providing optical demarcation, comprising:

• a customer interface within said customer's network element,
• a provider interface within said service provider's network element optically coupled to said customer interface, said customer interface for optically conveying a first one or more optical data plane signals to said first provider interface,
• a provider controller within said service provider's network,
• a customer controller within said customer's network element coupled to said provider controller, wherein said customer controller and said provider controller are managed within said service provider's network, and wherein said customer's network element is managed at least in part, but not entirely, within said customer's network,
• a customer demarcation control channel for conveying, between said customer controller and said provider controller, information of at least one optical signal parameter associated with said first one or more optical data plane signals, and wherein said provider controller is configured to enable and to prohibit the transmission of said first one or more optical data plane signals in accordance with said information, and wherein said customer demarcation control channel is not demodulated with said first one or more optical data plane signals at said provider controller, and
• at least one of:
• a first optical waveguide with one of one or more inputs optically coupled to said customer interface and with at least one of two or more outputs optically coupled to said provider interface, or
• a second optical waveguide with one of one or more inputs optically coupled to said provider interface and with at least one of two or more outputs optically coupled to said service provider's network, or
• a first protection switch with one of one or more outputs coupled to said service provider's network and with at least one of two or more inputs optically coupled to either said at least one of two or more outputs of said second optical waveguide, or to said provider interface if said second optical waveguide is not present, each for conveying said one or more optical data plane signals.