part I sonet/atm/atm access switch/xdsl
or
Fujitsu/Nexion/Orckit
or
Why there might be room for optimism for '98..
(Who's on first)
Had something of a mindless lapse the other night: know my SI 15 minutes are up, but...would like to change the "convergence of atm and vdsl as the holy grail" to
"If the ATM and DSL markets merge next year (97)..., watching the market leaders may require a three-dimensional grid."
techweb.com
Well now that Orckit has their atm dance partner Fujitsu (at least for North America), have decided to cross reference, revisit, and post my Fujitsu/Orckit , sonet/atm/dsl "notes". Warning re commentary: no technical background, probably know just about enough to be dangerous: Have included URL's wherever possible. When the ice is getting particularly thin- have included: (?). Any corrections or additions are particularly welcome (from anyone) here.
This will end up as several posts and again, probably only of interest to the ORCTF hardcore.. (orcs?)
Conclusion: The partnership with Fujitsu: strategy/technology seem sound, time (2 yrs+?) will tell.
Thumbnail summary (technology/product integration- at each step) Fujitsu/Orckit: fiber/sonet/atm - atm access switch - dslam - xdsl/copper/tcp/ip/ethernet. Variations accomodated. "DSL technologies enable a natural extension of carrier's broadband SONET networks".
The "Fujitsu-Orckit alliance produces the first real end to end solution, moving data from the user's ethernet interface to an ATM switch at the central office."
fnc.fujitsu.com
Fujitsu will aggressively stretch this integrated product offering thru the ATM switch (Fetex and Nexion) to Sonet: "Fujitsu, which also claims 60 percent marketshare for Sonet transmission equipment in the United States, said the Nexen platform will marry Sonet with ATM switching to enable quality of service and other carrier requirements for high-speed networking."
192.215.107.74
The hook: Known, proven and accepted Fujitsu equipment provides a stepping stone right off the backbone for/to a flexible "integrated solution" for xdsl: "A carrier can easily implement DSL over the backbone, thanks to Fujitsu's FASTLANE LAN/ATM product family. Simply adding a FASTLANE 10Base-T Ethernet card set to a Fujitsu FACTR access platform or the widely deployed FLM-150 ADM SONET multiplexer provides a link to the DSL shelf for a quick service turn-up..." In 1998 the FACTR access platform will be able to accomodate VDSL, SDSL, and HDSL as plug-in cards. "That integration will enable elimination of the external shelf"...."This integration is aimed at those carriers who want to provide a fiber-to-the-neighborhood implementation. For carriers who prefer to serve their customers from the central office or a remote terminal, we will continue to offer the rack version." Does external shelf and/or rack= dslam (?)
orckit.com
"Within a couple of years, SpeedPort will be integrated as a set of plug-ins to the FACTR access transport module," the spokesman said, referring to Fujitsu's digital loop carrier product. "You won't have to hit a SpeedPort multiplexer before you hit the Sonet backbone."
"They essentially leapfrogged an entire development cycle," he said. "Orckit now has a distribution channel into the Bell companies," he said.
internettelephony.com
Fujitsu's SpeedPort seems to be Orckit's FastInternet. Sounds like this (these) will be engineered into plug-ins (?).
The team: (Essentially Orckit/Fujitsu. Fujitsu just bought Nexion.)
Orckit- hdsl, sdsl, adsl, vdsl
Nexion- atm access switch
Fujitsu- fiber, atm, sonet, telco track record
The competition: (sonet/atm players and their dsl mates)
Nortel/Westell
Alcatel (makings own edge and customer premises equipment)
Lucent (working on dsl but hasn't announced plans or partners)
orckit.com
Should Siemans/Amati or NEC/Amati be added?
favorite quote:
"The Nexion acquisition demonstrates Fujitsu's vision for simplifying the interaction between switching and transmission infrastructures," said Daniel Taylor, senior analyst for wide area network research for the Aberdeen Group. "By combining the NEXEN 8000's state-of-the-art multiservice switching functions with Fujitsu's market-leading SONET capabilities, the case for Fujitsu solutions is extremely compelling. When we add in Fujitsu's partnership with Orckit Communications Ltd. for DSL technology, the network access solution is both practical and elegant."
fnc.fujitsu.com
most interesting question: (aside from profit potential)
Why is a Fujitsu, a $36 billion global technology leader in computers, communications and microelectronics, going into 5 yr. partnership (50-50 gross margin split/shared manufacturing) with a $13 million israeli startup? (knowledge is power at a particular point in space and time?) |
