Fiber optic systems represent the sole future-proof network investment as the world gobbles bandwidth like it’s zero-calorie candy. But laying fiber to connect homes and businesses costs millions, if not billions, of dollars – an eye-popping price tag for service providers in any economic environment, much less the tail-end of a worldwide recession. To add to the difficulty, broadband demand just keeps growing: by the end of 2013, supporting the world’s cellular and WiMAX networks will require a total of 90,000 Gbps in the last mile of the backhaul network, In-Stat Research reported last year. Carriers alone realize they cannot meet the challenge. This week, three companies announced programs sure to galvanize service provider customers’ fiber plans in the United States.
Construction costs have created a “huge gap” between what’s available and what’s needed to support new broadband demand, Ed Vilandrie, director of tech consulting firm Altman Vilandrie & Co., said on a conference panel last year. Network service providers can't shoulder the burden of building fiber routes throughout the country -- particularly not dark fiber routes. Luckily niche providers such as Lexent Metro Connect have stepped forward to plug the gap. The New York-based dark-fiber company, which serves operators and enterprises, this week said it’s deploying some of the shortest dark-fiber routes available, connecting New York and New Jersey. The news is huge for wholesale providers and financial clients needing to move traffic in milliseconds for automated trading and the like.
Perhaps of greater interest was the news that Lightower Fiber Networks is buying Veroxity Technology Partners. The companies, both headquartered in Massachusetts, specialize in fiber connectivity – dark fiber included – and their union will result in greater last-mile fiber access into buildings in downtown Boston, the greater Boston area and other regions. Plus, all Lightower customers will be able to use Veroxity’s long-haul services to markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Diego. Rob Shanahan, president and CEO of Lightower, called the combination “a natural fit” that attests to service providers’ need for fiber.
“Fiber is the conduit that offers almost limitless bandwidth,” he told VON/xchange. “The only issue remaining is fiber access, into buildings and towers. Construction costs and red tape are the biggest impediments to faster fiber deployment.”
