"This Network Will Have You Beaming" - Forbes story on FSO:
forbes.com
"NEW YORK - A good chief information officer should always have a laser-like focus on his computer network--but R. Todd Thomas turned that metaphor into reality by adopting an improved wireless networking system based on beams of light.
As CIO of the Austin Radiological Association, Thomas has discovered the way free-space optics--a wireless networking system that uses beams of light to transmit information--can provide fast, cheap and reliable service, saving his company money and improving efficiency..."
"...The association decided to install an optical system from San Diego, Calif.-based LightPointe Communications, and its first laser link went online in May. It was so successful, they've set up two more links, and are planning to install even more. Thomas says the system is so much cheaper than running fiber, he's seen a return on his investment in only about six months. His network uses LightPointe's FlightStrata and FlightLite transceivers, which retail at starting prices of about $20,000 and $7,500, respectively. Installation of the devices costs about $1,000 to $4,000.
Many potential users of free-space optics worry about performance and are concerned about what happens if something interferes with the laser beam and blocks communication. But Thomas says he hasn't run into any issues. The system automatically corrects for minor interruptions--such as a bird flying through the beam--and while bad weather remains a potential concern, it would take extremely heavy fog or thunderstorms to slow down the system. "If you can still see the building, a laser light can make it there," he says.
Free-space optics systems have been out for a while, but only now are starting to take off. A few years ago, "expectations were the market would take off a bit more than it has," says Andy Fuertes, principal analyst at Visant Strategies. Vendors of the technology include LightPointe, Terabeam, Canon (nyse: CAJ - news - people ), and MRV Communications (nasdaq: MRVC - news - people ).
Free-space optics systems will likely find a comfortable niche in use connecting local offices, since they provide good service at such a cheap price, says Fuertes. "I think the main problem it has is you need line of sight, and there's certain distance limitations...that will make it remain a pretty modest market," he says. "It's not going to become the next cellular market, but it should post respectable growth."
Dee Jay |
