According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of modeling an optical signal transmission path may include obtaining first transmission characteristics of an optical signal transmission path within an optical network based on a parameter of the optical network and randomly changing states of polarization of an optical signal within the optical signal transmission path. The method may also include obtaining second transmission characteristics of the optical signal transmission path based on the parameter and a first fixed state of polarization of the optical signal. The method may also include correlating the first transmission characteristics with the second transmission characteristics to obtain an effective state of polarization of the optical signal. A simulation of the optical signal transmission path based on the parameter and the effective state of polarization of the optical signal may produce transmission characteristics that may approximate the first transmission characteristics.