Hi Frank - Can you explain in more detail how you define (1) route peering for ISPs and (2) what are the requirements to build a "route peering" system (ie. a. software and/or b. hardware dedicated fibre backbone).
The CEO of RMII was comparing AbovNet services to RMII. I got the impression that RMII wanted to eventually achieve the same "route peering" functions that AbovNet now delivers.
RMII has already installed broadband switches at their larger ISP customers sites within Colorado (CASCADE NETWORKS - rmi.net that provide for full redundancy coupled with flexibility and high performance. They utilize a software centric multiservice WAN platform, based on ATM cell switching for interworking among Frame Relay, SMDS, ISDN and ATM. Isn't this really very specific "Route Peering" technology? What prevents RMII expanding this concept to their large ISP customers throughout the U.S.?
From my research a route peering (http://www.whatis.com/peering.htm) network incorporates both bilaterial and multilaterial agreements with other ISP's to create a high bandwidth multi-path network. I can only conclude that AboveNet has in place some routing agreements with other ISP's that utilizes a "private peering" service model that guarantee's a minimum bandwidth (on demand) to each of their subscribers.
Private peering is peering between parties that are bypassing part of the public backbone network through which most Internet traffic passes. In a regional area, some ISPs exchange local peering arrangements instead of or in addition to peering with a backbone ISP. In some cases, peering charges include transit charges, or the actual line access charge to the larger network. Properly speaking, peering is simply the agreement to interconnect and exchange routing information.
I believe RMII already owns it's own fibre backbone and contracts for additional bandwidth through MCI/World COM. Bilateral and Multilateral peering agreements can be established by RMII along with implementing very efficient network management software to build a very reliable "private" network backbone. From what I can tell, this is what RMII wants to accomplish after they consolidate many of their recent ISP aquasitions.
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How will RMII's finished network differ from AboveNet's network? I guess I am looking at RMII not as being the ISP but really as moving towards being the "private" network similar to what AbovNet offers now.
I am really focused on how RMII plans to consolidate and build out their network. This will include how they eventually use these Cascade switches and other emerging technology to achieve an efficient national and international route peering network. Also the CEO wants to offer IP telephone services over this network.
Perhaps the next big announcement our CEO will make is some partnership or alliance with Lucent, Nortel or Acatel.
Thank's for the feedback Frank, this one is a long shot. Chairman and CEO Douglas H. Hanson has an excellent track record with building the Qwest network. He also recently put $7.5 million of his own money into RMII (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/990817/co_rmii_in_1.html). |
