The introduction of Colorless, Directionless, Contentionless, Flexible Grid (CDC-F) Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexers (ROADMs) enables enhanced efficiency, flexibility, capacity, and operational simplicity for next-generation optical networks. Carriers can deploy flexible, dynamic optical networks that automatically detect and restore around network faults, adjust and optimize to network changes, and automate many operational tasks that currently require costly manual intervention. This optical layer flexibility and support for additional capacity lowers overall optical network costs. At the same time, a whole host of new applications and automations can be supported, leading to additional operational savings.