[LINK] Telstra ultimatum on fibre

[Stewart Fist]

Chris writes re dark fibre and nodes
-- 

> That was my understanding too - but apparently these devices are now not
> much bigger than a paperback novel. Presumbably the main reason for the
> dark glass is that it costs almost nothing to install extra and it may
> be useful for later expansion - but my understanding is that the usable
> bandwidth per fibre keeps getting better so the need for additional fibres
> to meet growth in demand diminishes.

I think you'll find that the main reason they have dark fibre installed is
in order to offset the cost of terminal equipment, muxes, etc. when the
system grows, rather than just for bandwidth.  Most fibres have more
bandwidth than any distribution system can utilise, given the more expensive
terminal equipment necessary to handle the higher data rates.  So it is
cheaper to use terminal and muxing equipment with lower-rates at the
'mature' part of the cost-development cycle.


I would guess that the real advantage of Fiber-to-the-home rather than to
the node comes about because you don't need then to worry about
fibre-bandwidth (there's more than enough) and nor do you need worry about
electronics and power in nodes in street cabinets.

But mainly you don't need worry about demultiplexing.  Use of nodes means
demuxing and power and electronics out in the street, which is not a good
idea if you can do without.

Personally, I think fibre-to-the-home in three-to-five years is the best
option for Australia now, rather than going to the intermediate (and costly)
intermediate node stage now.  One fibre per house, with a few spare dark
fibres would be ideal.   I would bet this will be the technology in five
years.

However in the competitive frenzy we now face, they'll probably use some
sort of optical grating system for laser separation, and multiple lasers
down fibres for delivery from the exchange - then a split out to one-laser
per fibre for the last 100 metres.

I don't know whether this is characterised as a node system under the
current definition or not, but clearly it is more complex than
single-fibre-all-the-way and less complex than current nodes (it probably
doesn't requiring power to the grating-'node')

I must admit that I haven't been following developments for the last couple
of years so my view is possibly out of date.


Stewart Fist, writer, journalist, film-maker
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