A communication network is configured to implement time scale separated management and provisioning optimizations, for example, in a core optical network coupled to multiple data networks. Network management optimizations are performed at respective points in time separated by intervals of a first time scale, and network provisioning optimizations are performed at respective points in time separated by intervals of a second time scale, with the intervals of the second time scale being on average substantially longer than the intervals of the first time scale. Moreover, at least a given one of the intervals of the second time scale has a length which is determined based on results of performance of one or more of the network management optimizations. The core optical network maybe configured utilizing information specified by the network management and network provisioning optimizations.