Re: Collision in the MAN
Frank and James- Gee Frank, I agree with your Yahooligans comments. I'm also impressed with ice_gator's Yahoo comments too, but I still can't bear the thought of going through all the Yahoo posts to get to the few good ones. Thanks James(assumming you are popptoafd) for cross-connecting our threads. Please continue to do so.
In a very similar manner that ice_gator sees occurring, I see it too. The MAN collision is coming from two directions, the edge and the core. I'm very interested in learning more about where they meet. I found a sample PR which ties right into our discussion. And of course the PR says, "Legacy? No problem." I'm still trying to figure out the facts and it's hard for me to understand where those are.
Here's the PR edited way down and bolded where it's pertinent to our discussion. Any comments you may have will be appreciated. Thanks. -MikeM(From Florida)
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Zaffire's Z3000 to Help Carriers Set Stage for Next Bandwidth Explosion
May 22, 2000, SAN JOSE, California-- A key enabler of tomorrow?s bandwidth explosion is being put in place today via the introduction of the Zaffire Z3000 optical service platform. ILECs, data-CLECs, PTTs, and IXCs expanding into the metro market are expected to be the prime beneficiaries.
With Internet-based data traffic doubling every 6 to 9 months, Gigabit Ethernet services demand about to explode, and the number of DSL consumers projected to grow from about 1 million currently to as many as 50 million by 2003, communications carriers have been put in a vexing position: How do you prepare for tomorrow's accelerated bandwidth demand levels, not to mention constantly evolving applications, while preserving today's bottom line cost structure?
The answer is by investing in a scalable, flexible network architecture with the requisite optical smarts to allow you to expand and amend your networks where, when and how you need.
Using its patent-pending DWDM platform, in conjunction with its cross-platform operating system, ZOS, and management system, Z-Manager, Zaffire's Z3000 employs digital wrapper technology to help carriers solve the problem of bandwidth capacity bottlenecks in the metro market and intelligently manage the fiber optics links between long-haul carriage and last-mile access.
Although the Z3000 is fully backwards compatible, facilitating the support of incumbent legacy systems, it also will be deployed in new greenfield build-outs, added to existing rings as an upgrade over SONET technology, and used in conjunction with replacement systems.
The Z3000's optical smarts includes user-selectable protection options, which enables carriers to price and differentiate their service offerings based on a range of service level packages. The end result: new and expanded revenue streams for carriers, and more robust, more affordable services for their customers and their customers' customers.
Chris Nicoll, director of carrier and optical infrastructure analysis at Current Analysis, said Zaffire's ability to support legacy SONET systems and new build-outs puts the company in a "unique class." "Too many of the optical networking start-ups are going to focus only on new rings, but won't be able to interoperate with SONET rings," he said.
"That's not going to work for incumbent players who have huge stranded investments in SONET rings and need to continue to support that infrastructure." Key to the Zaffire model is "their full SONET compatibility, which allows for the support of legacy systems, and their ability to serve new build outs. For that reason, this will be a strong value proposition for ILECs and CLECs alike," Nicoll said.
Moreover, in a time marked by concept-only companies, the Zaffire portfolio includes perhaps the most tangible validator: actual product. Williams Communications is currently evaluating the Z3000, while leading network-based communications and applications provider BroadBand Office has recently completed lab testing and has now begun a field trial.
BroadBand Office Vice President of Engineering, Johnson Agogbua, commented, "What is impressive about Zaffire is that they have attacked the power and density problems that plague today's optical system providers with flawless precision, as well as raising the bar on cost per Lambda" for metro aggregation optical systems. The Zaffire Z3000 system is built specifically for metro hub aggregation, with the MPLS control plane that enables rapid service creation. BBO is pleased with the results of our Z3000 beta tests."
In short, Zaffire's Z3000 system represents the critical solution that a wide range of carriers including incumbent local exchange carriers, new generation data CLECs, and wholesale IXCs expanding into the metro market seek for meeting advanced network management challenges, at a price roughly one-third that of competing systems. In overseas markets, Pan-European carriers and European city carriers (i.e. CLECs) are expected to be other early Zaffire adopters. |
