Gruetz, I would suggest you examine again the post from Frank #10643, and determine whether or not your wishes of "open visibility" here to be something reasonable to expect, or not.
I know how other situations can require secrecy, and my seeming need to know about Winnick's bond-sales friction-costs are in the same category (more or less) as to what Frank is alluding WRT bandwidth arrangements.
I was very much astonished to see Frank's comments about the Olde Schoole not wanting to do the open bandwidth-exchange model, due to this mindset. I certainly do see, however, why they would be reluctant to do so. The same reasons apply to competitive advantages for business as they do for the Pentagon, or for Wall Street Traders, blablabla....
Curiously, I remember a story about the Japanese fish markets, where the traders and buyers haggle over the price of a fish, but it is done via finger-talk, one hand from each party concealed inside a cloth bag so that the onlookers can not determine what price each accepted as fair and reasonable. Nowadays, my understanding of long-term bandwidth contracts is they require some form of being tied to the current price on the open exchanges, and re-adjusted each year going forward to compensate for changes in pricing, no customer wishing to be locked in at today's prices when next April the price will be 30% cheaper, as an example.
Very Interesting comment, Frank. And I will assume what you mean by the traditional carriers is ATT, BT, DT, SBC et.al. Corrections of course are welcomed....
Martin Thomas |
