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On the R-OADM to the Lightwave Network
Information Gatekeepers Inc, Aug 2006
We have been writing about R-OADMs and their coming importance almost since the beginning of the technology. This is the fourth R-OADM report in our Lightwave series. Four years ago, we prepared our first report on R-OADMs – “R-OADMs – the Lightwave under Control.” At the time, very few authors were writing much about R-OADMs. As stated in that report it was, “… a report about a device that did not exist; whose technology was unselected; and whose market was very unclear.”
Now in mid-2006, the R-OADM has become a standard part of long-haul networks – to be included as a matter of course in any new network, and they are rapidly becoming a major update objective for existing networks. They are also becoming of importance to metro networks. In addition to the maturity of application, R-OADMs have also developed a third generation technology base – the Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) that has quickly become the ‘gold standard.’
This is a complete update of our earlier reports with an emphasis on WSS, and how the WSS technology approach to R-OADMs will facilitate the interconnection of multiple networks. The interconnection of long haul and metro networks takes on a new importance with the SBC-ATT-BellSouth and Verizon-MCI mergers. This report contains completely new forecast scenarios, expanded technical material, many added vendors, and updates on deployment activities since the previous work. It also includes new material on Wavelength Selective Switches, and many more figures, explaining the various types of approaches available for R-OADMS. This is a completely stand-alone report, containing all of the background material from the earlier reports.
The existing IXC networks, at almost every level, are conglomerates of various generations and types of technologies. To an extent, this has always been the case, but now it is more so than ever, because of the timing of the telecom burst. Telcos (and others) were just in the beginning stages of implementing the new optical technologies (DWDM, optical switches, M-DWDM) when the burst occurred. We now have ‘stacked SONET’ residing along side DWDM and in some cases, those are along side some version of ‘god boxes,’ and maybe enhanced SONET. Capital constraints prevented the initiation of any real replacement program for the older technologies. In addition, while we have been in a deep freeze as to investment, technology and product advancements have continued. Capital started loosening up in late 2004 and clearly in 2005. This year (2006) appears to have brought a greater loosening of the capital strings. However, there is still a strong pressure for profitability, demanding expense containment.
In addition to this delayed updating of the IXC networks, the early days of 2005 brought a spate of acquisitions (SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI) that will all but eliminate the independent IXC business. The later merger announcement of AT&T and BellSouth has served to accentuate the trend. While these mergers offer many economies of scale, they also bring together existing disparate networks. Both AT&T and Verizon will want to consolidate their existing networks with their recent purchases. They will seek operational efficiencies, and elimination of duplication.
This integration will ultimately be based on elements like ROADMs, next generation DWDM, next generation SONET and optical switches. It will be directed at making the network more flexible, more reliable, and less labor intensive. In addition, the combined RBOCs are both in progress on deploying national networks for the delivery of video. These networks will be the largest deployment to date of R-OADM technology, and will thus become the single largest driver to the R-OADM market. Indeed, we are now on the road to R-OADM based networks!
This report will describe the R-OADM, its potential applications, underlying technologies, market drivers, the market potential with detailed forecasts (both for systems and for components), and the vendors involved in the market.
It contains completely new forecast rationale, expanded technical material and updates on deployment activities since the previous work. In addition, its focus is on Wavelength Selective Switches, which has become the gold standard of R-OADMs. This report contains many more figures, explaining the various types of approaches available for R-OADMS and expands on application material, particularly multi-degree node interconnections. This is a completely stand-alone report, containing all of the background material from the earlier report.
Most importantly, this report focuses on how the 2005-2006 acquisitions by the RBOCs will influence this market., and how the video delivery networks resulting from these mergers will become the major R-OADM driver.
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