a b the example embodiment allocates 16 protection transponders at degree e of node a 605 a and allocates 16 protection transponders at degree c of node b 605 b fig6 c shows a traffic demand 608 c of 8 along a working path between node b 605 b and node c 605 c path b c in the mesh network 600 also shown is a protection path path b a e d c 615 along the p cycle determined by the example embodiment to support the working path b c the example embodiment allocates 8 protection transponders at degree a of node b 605 b and allocates 8 protection transponders at degree d of node c 605 c fig6 d shows a traffic demand 608 d of 9 along a working path between node b 605 b and node d 605 d path b c d in the mesh network 600 also shown is a protection path path b a e d 620 along the p cycle determined by the example embodiment to support the working path b c d the example embodiment allocates 9 additional protection transponders at degree a of node b 605 b because the 8 existing protection transponders may not be reused as they may already be in use due to a failure between node b 605 b and node c 605 c the example embodiment also allocates 9 protection transponders at degree e of node d 605 d fig6 e shows a traffic demand 608 e of 1 along a working path between node d 605 d.