To: Sector Investor who wrote (11173 ) 11/6/1998 9:27:00 AM From: Sector Investor Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 42804
More on SilkRoad. I think they are making a big spash to attract buyers and cash. By Tim Greene Network World Fusion, 11/04/98 SilkRoad, an upstart in fiber transmission technology, recently made big claims about revolutionizing the use of fiber-optic cable. Likening SilkRoad's technological achievements to those of Newton and Einstein, the company says it can theoretically cram up to 10 terabytes/sec of data on a single fiber strand using a single laser. The company also claims that the technology will be able to send data in both directions simultaneously over the same strand. Its signal can travel up to 200 miles without repeaters to strengthen the signal; four times the distance capabilities of dense wave division multiplexing. DWDM is considered the most advanced fiber transmission technology. In addition, SilkRoad claims it can send all that data using just a single color laser. This approach differs from DWDM, which uses multiple lasers of different colors to establish separate channels. SilkRoad plans to have its first product ready during the first quarter of 1999. The product will transmit more than 30 channels in one direction over a single fiber. Two-way transmission on the same fiber strand as well as more channels per fiber will come later, the company says. [How much later, I wonder?] The company is privately funded, and officials claim it has plenty of offers for more cash from some of its potential carrier customers. ********** Interesting that MRVC already has 2-way transmission on a single fiber NOW, with the Fiber Driver product, which is unique at the moment. And while not 200 miles, their distances are also longer than other DWDM vendors. Plus with Fiber Driver, MRVC has all the products to connect to AND CONVERT BETWEEN ATM, Sonet, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, IP, plus multimode to single mode fiber conversion, copper to fiber conversion etc already out and selling. SilkRoad does not mention ANY connectivity yet. In short, SilkRoad only claims to have the technology for a very fast, high potential capacity pipe. At this time, they have no products or contracts and no proven connectivity. They will need more than that to compete with existing vendors who are using PROVEN products today with flexible connectivity options. I think they are over a year away from really challenging anyone, and probably two or more years before they have a full range of products to connect to their fast pipe. In those years, MRVC and others will continue advancing too - and MRVC is VERY innovative. I think SilkRoad has a LOT of work to do yet, so I don't see any need to worry at this point. Comments?