Routed optical networks

Thu May 4 13:03:45 UTC 2023

> On May 4, 2023, at 6:21 AM, Mark Tinka <mark at tinka.africa> wrote:
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> 
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> On 5/4/23 11:40, Denis Fondras wrote:
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>> 
>> You may also take into account the time to deliver.
>> Laying fiber takes much more time than plugging a colored optic.
> 
> Indeed - part of the expense of running new fibre is the time it takes to start making money from it.
> 

One of the advantages in the US right now is that capital cost is being subsidized or reimbursed by state or federal government, leaving room to expand.  Some providers have missed out on this, and others have capitalized on it.  It’s very much a mix of people who are chasing that $ and those that are not.  

I will say that merchant silicon has it’s place, but so does the vendor silicon.  At some point if you get the fiber to that location, unlocking the capacity becomes much easier with CEx or similar modules to overlay services.

Making the choice to build a quality fiber first network is important, and why I have already had to take routes that I had planned lower count fibers on and upgrade them.  I’m a bit shocked that I now need a 288F cable on some of my routes to support future expansion, but that fiber cost is still small compared to the labor.

- Jared