Why do many optical nodes accept two independent power supplies?

The acceptance of two independent power supplies in optical nodes primarily serves the purpose of ensuring redundant powering of the node. Redundancy is a critical design feature in telecommunications infrastructure because it enhances reliability and uptime. If one power supply fails or experiences an interruption, the second power supply can take over immediately, preventing any disruption to the operation of the optical node. This is especially important in network environments where continuous service is crucial, such as in residential broadband or critical data transmission applications.

While reducing installation costs, enabling faster data transfer speeds, or minimizing power consumption are considerations in network design, they do not address the primary function of having dual power supplies. The focus here is on maintaining operational reliability and minimizing downtime, making redundancy the key reason for this design choice.