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V. Rishi Kumar

HYDERABAD, June 15

WITH optical fibre cable (OFC) networks criss-crossing the country and gradually replacing the traditional copper lines and convergence leading to scores of broadband applications through a common pipe, various telecom operators in the country are evaluating the possibility of deploying `Optical Ethernet' to address the problem of last-mile connectivity.

Mr Sanjay Joshi, Director (Marketing), Nortel Networks India, told Business Line "We are in parleys with several telecom operators and they are evaluating this new application. Unlike in the past, in the last 3-4 years there has been significant deployment of OFC networks and in many cases, has replaced copper cabling."

He added: "With convergence being the buzzword in the telecom sector now, we are in parleys with several major telecom operators across the country to provide last-mile connectivity with `Optical Ethernet' in their networks.

"With data centres for live back-ups, storage and disaster recovery taking centre stage, and growing applications for technology companies and call centre business apart from cable MSOs (main service operators), this promises to provide a new technology interface."

Stating that the OFC network was ideally suited for modern-day convergence solutions, both for corporate houses, multi-storeyed complexes and in a host of other high-traffic zones, Mr Joshi said that the reason it suits the telecom service providers while optimising the potential of the fibre cable networks was that there was no need to replace existing copper lines to offer broadband services.

The Optical Ethernet blends two popular technologies - Ethernet, literally the only standard in LAN (local area network) connectivity since 98 per cent of all LANs are Ethernet-based, and optical transport technology, again a de facto transport medium for long-haul communications.

This combines ease of deployment, low cost and ubiquity of Ethernet with reliability and long distance carrier capability and high bandwidth of optical fibre technologies.

Both service providers and enterprises could use different types of metro Ethernet transport network, Mr Joshi said, as it allowed the service providers to leverage on their old investments.

Networks are still dependent on slow and expensive leased line technologies.

With operators seeking to adopt optical Ethernet applications, it is possible to scale the access from about 10 mbps to 1,000 mbps, according to Mr Joshi.

The best part of this technology application is that this allows corporations to transform their computing models from highly distributed environments to centralised environments, thereby delivering information faster and providing better access to customers and suppliers and optimising resources.

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