http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/OmMalik/~3/63620737/
Big Fiber Is Back
from GigaOM by Om Malik
Transglobal fiber networks that crisscrossed the planet were the most
visible and expensive manifestation of the broadband boom (and later
the bubble) of 1990s. Thanks to overbuilding, collapsing prices and
shady dealings, the boom turned to a bust, and before we knew it,
long haul networks became a four letter word.
360 Networks, Qwest, Global Crossing, Level 3 Communications and MCI
were some of the names that got caught in the down draft. Mother of
all cons, Enron is gone, and so have many other names. Those dark
days might be fresh in our collective memories, but there is a
hesitant sun that is rising. A new dawn, perhaps!
The first sign of a new dawn: a new network by Verizon Business
(which in reality is the old MCI) and a gaggle of Asian telecom
operators including China Telecom, China Netcom, China Unicom, Korea
Telecom, and Chunghwa Telecom of Taiwan.
The new cable consortium is going to build a $500 million network
called, Trans-Pacific Express, and the 18,000 kilometer cable system
will have capacity of up to 1.28 terabits/second, but will eventually
upgrade to over 5 terabits per second. The network will land on
Nedonna Beach, OR, on the US side and will hit China at Qingdao and
Chongming. It will also have landings in Tanshui, Taiwan, and Keoje,
South Korea.
The new network should not come as a surprise to anyone who has been
following the telecom and broadband markets. The traffic between Asia
Pacific (and China in specific) and the U.S. has been increasing at a
steady rate, and current infrastructure is feeling a bit stretched.
Look at the map to get a visual clue about the lopsided nature of the
global fiber infrastructure.
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